to make the base of this post... i would like to draw your attention to this comment of mine (with minor corrections) on the last post by A Bisht... it is their cities fans cheer for... which started a good debate...
when ipl started people doubted whether club culture can be replicated to cricket and more importantly how fans supporting their 'local' team respond to the sachin getting out to say nannes... or dilshan hitting ishant out of park...
but by and large it will not be an exaggeration to say that by ipl3 polarization of fans to the concept of teams rather than individuals has taken place... they root for their local teams more... they follow their local teams more...
having said that... i also believe the biggest challenge will come after the auction will take place at ipl4... coz it will kind of break this polarization as presumably a lot is going to change...
the franchise will have to work a fresh to create the team fans following... and its going to be even harder than the earlier IPLs...
although there is no official announcement on the modalities about how players will be retained / traded in next ipl auction... but the unconfirmed bits filtering out (thanks to mahek) are...
franchisees will be able to retain four indian and three overseas players provided the franchise and the player agrees to a contract, and that the salary would count towards the seven million cap...
will the franchisee be able to retain 'icons' who have become the face of their teams... like dhoni for csk to give you an example... and if not... how will fans react to csk being lead by someone else they were looking as a rival till now...?will it not affect the base of fans following and their loyalty... franchisees have managed to create in three seasons of ipl...?
though one thing which is certain about these uncertain prospects is that ipl will make lot of news either way...
