IPL: No Country for Old Men?

The absence for the first time of the Chennai Super Kings from the playoffs, not counting the time they served because of a two-year suspension, has raised a lot of debate about the shape and nature of the team...

SREELATA S. YELLAMRAZU

One of the conjectures surrounding the fallout of the early exit of the Chennai Super Kings from the IPL play offs has been the age factor. Generally considered a young man’s game, Twenty20 underwent a change of avatar with the Indian Premier League. But is the story reversing now?

The absence for the first time of the Chennai Super Kings from the playoffs, not counting the time they served because of a two year suspension, has raised a lot of debate about the shape and nature of the team but also, of the tournament and the format as a whole. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni already being targeted for his slowing down reflexes, there is a danger that age is becoming the sole criteria of determining why a team has faired so under par.