Girls are hooked to IPL T20

The Scene opens with tantalizing music, moves on to an item number with scantily clad females and suddenly stars like Shahrukh khan, Preity Zinta, Akshay Kumar, Katerina Kaif appear.

Question: where are you?

You are wrong if you answered a movie hall. You are watching IPL T20. That is where all this is happening. Ask the ladies, they are watching it. Yes, it is true; women are getting hooked to IPL T20 cricket as never before. More and more Indian women are trooping into the stadiums to watch live IPL matches and even a greater number is sitting in front of the TV.

The fight for the remote control at home is over since the start of IPLT20. According to surveys (I have no idea who does these surveys, I think they just make it up) more and more women are watching IPL T 20. Move over Sas Bahu here comes IPL Ki story.

IPL has all the ingredients of a pot boiler. It has drama, action, suspense, glamour, Hero, Heroines, Villains (Remember the politicians who made the cheerleaders dress up), side kicks, and to top it all actual live cricket (almost forgot that one). Add a Bhajji, Sreesanth episode and you can't ask for more.(They have made up, in case you did not know).

The new cricket format is obviously packing a big punch with viewers, women in particular. TV audiences, much like those who are watching action at the stadium, seem to be lapping up the big glitzy shows under floodlights every evening. Cricket is at the centre of the action, but it is part of a package with other elements that are almost as essential.

People are not watching IPL just for cricket. It is all-round entertainment with film stars, cricket stars, cheerleaders and also some great cricket. Whether it is Akshay Kumar rappelling across Ferozeshah Kotla or cheerleaders strutting their stuff during breaks (sadly fully clad) or the spectacle of watching Muttiah Muralitharan play alongside M S Dhoni, people are liking the cocktail of visual delights.

IPL has also been responsible for busting the myth that not too many women watch cricket. Women have shown a far higher interest in IPL. About 36% of the total audience share watching IPL comprises women. IT is a delight to have female spectators in the stadium. They add to the glamour and the cheer. I can see you guys grinning ear to ear.

Another indicator is TRP ratings that the programme has drawn. IPL began its innings with a bang and a viewer ship of 8.21 in six metros on April 18 but this came down to 4.97 on April 19. The latest figures available with TAM show that viewer ship has gone up to 5.57 for six metros — Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.

Do the guys mind? "Not at all" is the response I get from the youngsters all around. They love to have the ladies in the stadium. According to them it lends pep and color to the spectators. Husbands at home are not complaining either since there is no arguments about what to watch. Joy all around thanks to IPL T20.

Colorful Cheerleaders at IPL T20 Match