Do you feel fan following or fan loyalty is more for the IPL teams than the ones for the national team? I feel it is. The main reason for this, according to me, is our ego. Let me explain.
When India plays Australia or even Pakistan for that matter, the mood across most parts of the country would be similar. If India won the match, we would be happy. If India lost the match, we would be disappointed. The coffee room chat in all offices would revolve around the same point, with each member pointing out the nuances of the game, better than most of the “experts” on extraaaa innings. But fundamentally, they would all share the same feeling. So, no room for any argument, except some petty ones about the reason for the loss or victory.
Come IPL, the whole situation has changed. Honestly, when IPL was conceptualized, I believed that the excitement would not be too high, considering the fact that every match will be won by some part of India. Fortunately, I was wrong. People support their favorite team, not necessarily the team which is named after their city. The match is played and then begins the coffee room chat, the next day. Now, if someone ridicules the team you supported, you would try to defend them. If the other person continues, you try to defend them with all your might. Loyalty to your team strengthens. If, in the next match, your favorite team wins, you will be waiting to give that other person, a piece of your mind. Your joy will be magnified when you celebrate it in front of your detractors.
More than the liking for a team, it is this inherent desire to justify your choice of a team, which makes a person raise his voice for it. This unflinching support for a team, come what may, isn’t this what is called loyalty?
If you have observed, over the 3 IPLs, lots of people have switched loyalties between different sides. Why over 3 IPLs, even in the midst of an IPL, I have seen that happening. Something which rarely happens when you are suporting an international team!!
ReplyDeleteThis is true. But i feel, even if they are supporting a team which is winning, they would have a secret favorite as someone else. This happened a lot for the RCB fans during the first season. When most of the bangaloreans wanted them to do well, they didnt. It would have been very risky to support them then. People would have ridiculed them. Over the last two seasons, they are able to build a loyal fan base. I someone ridicules them now, they can always say "we kicked ur ass in the previous years".
ReplyDeleteIt is true that some people seem to shift loyalties. Slowly but surely people seem to be settling into one team of their choice.