Where are the Fans for the IPL 4 Qualifier, Eliminator? Wankhede Stadium's Poor Response

If there was ever evidence required of just how poor the fan response has been to the IPL 4 season, one had only to look at the sparse crowds at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Notice the empty stands behind Sachin Tendulkar. What must be worrying the BCCI is that even with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 4 eliminator, there were few passionate fans who made their presence felt. Has the IPL lost its appeal?

sachin tendulkar mi v kkr

Shah Rukh Khan was not the only notable absentee at the IPL 4 eliminator between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Mumbai Indians. But even the latter's presence or victory failed to entice cricket fans to the refurbished Wankhede Stadium, normally a thriving venue for a cricket match of this proportion.

While the first IPL qualifier between Chennai Super Kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore understandably drew far fewer crowds with the anticipation that the Wankhede Stadium would be filled to the brim with hoarse Mumbai Indians fans for the IPL 4 eliminator the following the day, the actual crowds at the gate was a shocking disappointment.

Certainly this could not be happening in Mumbai. But then perhaps given how the IPL 4 season has panned, dipping in TRPs for television viewers and generally eliciting an indifferent response, this should have been expected. However, it was expected that interest would pick up if not peak during the final four matches.

Even Sachin Tendulkar failed to bring in the crowds in the drones, a contrast from the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 when Mumbai went gaga over India's final encounter against Sri Lanka that India went onto to win in superlative fashion. That perhaps has also sunk the IPL 4, leaving fans exhausted from the cricket marathon and perhaps sending the strongest message yet to the BCCI honchos. But is anyone listening?