With the IPL finally coming to an end, it is time to take stock of the gains from this year?s tournament. And in doing so, one is amazed to note that barring a couple of youngsters, the sevenweek competition has hardly thrown up any new domestic home-grown talent. While it is argued that the IPL has given India?s first-class cricketers a new life, it has also made money come easy to most of them, a significant problem the BCCI has to deal with if the tournament has to move forward in the years to come.

Indian players are too well aware of the seven player cushion the IPL provides them with. Irrespective of how good a foreigner is, he will not make it to the team if he is not a star. With only four making the final 11, there is always a pressure on the international players to perform, a pressure that is hardly there on our own crop of homegrown talent. This ensures that unworthy Indians continue to get opportunities making the standard of cricket played rather poor on occasions. These fringe players, playing by default, have hardly shown the hunger to thrive harder.

Rewards?monetary and otherwise?have come too easy to them. This is perhaps the most important reason why the kitty of new talent brought to the fore by IPL season 4 is limited. Except Rahul Sharma and Paul Valthaty, and to an extent Manoj Tiwari and Ambati Rayudu, no other uncapped player has attracted attention of the Indian selectors. Rather, established stars like Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and the like have consolidated their positions at the top of the Indian cricketing ladder.

The truth is, these men don?t need the IPL. Irrespective of their IPL performances, they have made the Indian team and their sheer class will ensure they continue to make Indian cricket their own for a good many years to come. But the fundamental aim of the IPL, that it widens the Indian cricket scenario, offers up new talent and thus strengthens the foundation of the Indian game, has hardly been fulfilled by this season?s competition.

In trying to remedy this element of inadvertent complacency creeping into Indian uncapped players, the BCCI should contemplate increasing the number of foreign players in each team. Not only will this put the Indians under pressure, it will also ensure that they will no longer take their spots for granted. Also, it will have the effect of making the league more competitive and intense.

It wouldn?t be wrong to suggest that other cricket-playing countries are reaping the benefits of the IPL far more than India. With foreigners having to fight hard for a spot in an IPL franchise, they are always willing to go that extra yard. Thus, improving their skill, several of the players who have made a mark at IPL level have gone on to play for their national team. Shaun Marsh is perhaps the best example. He was pulled out of the Australia A side and asked to travel to Brisbane as a possible option for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Other players who has benefitted immensely from the IPL are Thissera Perrera of Sri Lanka already playing Test cricket in England and Ryan Tendoschate of the Netherlands. Not exposed to cricket at this level, the Dutch star will surely be a better player in the future based on his IPL exploits. In contrast to these success stories, Indian gains, despite the presence of seven players in the final 11 of each team are limited, bringing to the fore the question over the IPL?s real significance.

If it is a commercial exercise allowing India to further consolidate its hold over the global game, it is doing its job moderately well. Half full stadiums all through the competition, culminating in a half-full Wankhede during the play offs force me to say moderately. Half- empty stadiums have raised uncomfortable questions over the tournament?s commercial viability. But with telecast rights sold for ten years, there is no immediate risk to the tournament?s future. But in terms of its ability to throw up good Indian talent, IPL season 4 has a negative record, a legacy it will do well to change in season 5.

The final analysis is that IPL is in dire need of innovation. Infusion of new ideas are the order of the day and only if this happens will India?s only global sports brand continue to thrive going forward.

The writer is a sports historian