Auction, contracts and a ‘tennis ball IPL’ in the gully

CHENNAI: Avvai Super Kings, Rajeshwari Royals, Kakkan Nagar Riders, Kings XI Kambar... These are not teams that feature in a free-to-stream web series that shows all that’s bad in cricket, but proper playing elevens where teammates wear jerseys, swear by the colours and sign contracts after an auction. The men go at each other in a ‘professional’ league that is run by amateurs. Locals call it MPL, and officially it is the Metha Nagar Premier League, a gully cricket tournament that matches the Indian Premier League in passion if not on the purse.
Amid the crowd of advertisement hoardings, there is the familiar face of Virat Kohli that greets fans thronging Metha Nagar near Choolaimedu.
Almost 800 families live here, and while they may not be in the thick of things, everyone knows what MPL is. For the youngsters, it is their pride. Any query from an enthusiast would invite a gathering of around 50 youths eager to explain the league where one can play and earn.

That said, the concept of paid or guest cricketers is not new to gully or tennis ball cricket. It is prevalent across the country and folklore is replete with tales of part-time gully cricketers who played for a pittance before donning the national colours. M S Dhoni, as the story goes, is one of them.
But unlike the leagues that find a passing mention in Dhoni’s biopic, the MPL has emulated the IPL in toto, well almost. The league includes an auction where local cricketers are bought.
On Saturday evening, Metha Nagar will be abuzz. There will be tables covered with white cloth, half-drunk bottles of mineral water upon them, and players waiting for the auctioneer’s gavel declaring -- ‘SOLD!’
A total of 120 players are up for grabs in eight teams, each with a budget of Rs 25,000 to enlist a 15-man squad. The base price of a player is Rs 100 and the top pick could be sold for Rs 10,000. The organising committee of 22 members has pooled in Rs 2 lakh for the auction -- where bids are placed by team captains -- and the tournament that is run, or owned, by the Metha Nagar Association.
Vairamuthu, one of the members, says the association has been conducting annual sports events and last year wanted to bring together senior and junior tennis ball cricketers. “We thought of an IPL-style league. Our area has many teams and we decided to pick eight captains with the team names representing the streets such as Avvaiyar Street and Kakkan Nagar. We initially thought of having an auction with a budget of Rs 500 per team,” says Vairamuthu, a businessman.
But then it shot up to Rs 25,000, when cricket buffs took guard. Juice shops, gyms, travel agencies, water suppliers, corporate employees residing in the area joined hands to collect funds in no time.
“I gave Rs 30,000 for the first edition. I’m a player myself and take great pride in playing here. Youngsters who got money in the first auction used it for education or supported their families. Some people sponsor jerseys, some take care of the water and food. The local families support the tournament,” says Wasim Raja, a juice vendor.
Although participation is voluntary, organisers Prashanth Babu and Sudakar say the league is professionally run. “We inform the police about the tournament. We want to set an example to others. Many teams from outside have contacted us to take part in it but we don’t encourage that as this is like a family event. Women turn up for the auction and matches,” says Sudakar.
Besides the IPL-type auction, the tourney shares several similarities with its remote and rich cousin – there is an Orange Cap, a Purple Cap and the Fair Play Award. Also, teams have logos, jersey launches, contract signing and social media outreach. However, there is no cash prize for the winners, they get only trophies.
“Cash prizes may create rifts among players. Youngsters benefit from the money in the auction. Ego clashes are very little and no matter who wins, there is a big get-together on the night of the final,” says Prashanth who works in the entertainment sector.
Though most players are cheaper than a plate of full-fledged breakfast, Vasanth Krishnmaoorthy, who was ‘sold’ for just Rs 90 last year at another such tournament, Heavy Vehicles Premier League in Avadi, says more than the money, it is the ‘gethu’ (sort of a boss) factor that counts.
“When you enter the ground and people say he can hit it long,” says Vasanth, “the gethu feeling kicks in. We feel proud.”