IPL 2018: Don't yawn, there's cricketing excitement to look forward to

The Indian Premier League kicks off today. Dhruv Munjal explains why the 11th edition has a distinctive feel to it

For a long time now, experts and audiences have argued about what the Indian Premier League (IPL) truly is. At inception, the IPL was an unprecedented show of power — a rousing blend of razzmatazz, entertainment, celebrity team owners, cheerleaders and some cricket. Over the years, the showiness has often smothered the cricket; on other occasions, the cricket has sparkled so much that the accoutrements have been made to look like useless ostentation.

Over the past 10 years, a decade during which it has oscillated uncomfortably between thrill and scandal, the IPL has shown it is much more than just a