IPL -6: 'Cricket fever' set to sweep Hyderabadis

HYDERABAD: IPL-6 is here and 'cricket fever' is set to sweep Hyderabadis off their feet or so the organisers would like you to believe. Is that the case on the ground?

The truth, as they say, is somewhere in between. For fans in Hyderabad, this season is new in every sense of the term. The Deccan Chargers were terminated and in their place, have come the Sunrisers.

M Mounik, an undergraduate, just cannot wait to watch the new team in action. 'I have booked my ticket for their first match three weeks back!' she exclaimed.

The Sunrisers clash with Pune Warriors at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium at Uppal on April 5. But Mounik's excitement isn't shared by many. Tickets for the match are not exactly selling like hot cakes.

'Sales are good for the lower categories like Rs 300, 400 and 500. The same is not the case with the high end ones,' said Jovita of Bookmyshow.com, the online ticketing portal which is the official ticketing partner for Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Pune Warriors, Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad this season.

According to Jovita, corporate bookings have not even started yet. 'People have not gone in for corporate booking this season (in Hyderabad) till date may be due to the cost involved. Each ticket costs Rs 4,000. Or it may be corporate bookings depend upon the venues,' she said.

G Nikita, another IPL fan, believes the tournament is more of an entertainment like a Mahesh Babu movie. She hopes that the Hyderabad Sunrisers will give the fans in the city something to cheer about.

'There seems to be some improvement with the new team. We can feel it from the song itself,' she said. Vamsi, a cricket fan as he likes to call himself, isn't motivated enough to watch the Sunrisers.

'This is the second Hyderabad team. The team, though, isn't much different. One good thing is that Laxman is back at least as a mentor,' he observed, adding that may be Sunrisers would be better than the Deccan Chargers.

'But that is no reason to rush to the stadium where there are a hell lot of restrictions,' he felt. For many, Shikhar Dhawan's injury and consequent absence from the matches is a big let down.

Sunrise after DC

Deccan Chargers may have made way for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, but the team is evoking just the same amount of curiosity in the city. As far as the players go, they seemed excited enough.

Turning up for the unveiling of the team's jersey on Monday, captain Kumar Sangakkara was relaxed and buoyed to be in the city, especially given that none of the Sri Lankan players will be able to play in Chennai.

Accompanied by coach Tom Moody, and fellow team mates Ishant Sharma and Cameron White, he fielded questions from the audience as well as their principal sponsors Makemytrip.com.

Dressed in their team colours of grey and the orange, they displayed their customary ease. In a quick-fire round of sorts, Deep Kalra, CEO and founder of the web portal, asked each of the players a question about travelling, and some of their responses were downright hilarious.

For instance, asked what about travelling that irritated him the most, the 6 ft odd Tom Moody responded, 'It really is irritating when you don't get the exit aisle seating and you are sitting there with your knees under your chin while a 5ft 5 chap is enjoying that space!'