IPL action - Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore

“Wow! What a treat!” I think this is what most cricket fans in South Africa are saying right now. After only 2 weeks of the DLF IPL Twenty20 Tournament, local and international fans have seen the best cricketers in the world battling it out again and again. And they have certainly delivered a lot of incredible performances. We have already seen a “Super Over” shoot out, many huge sixes, spectacular catches, run-out’s and much fine bowling in some tightly contested matches. And that is just on the field! The organisers have put together an astoundingly polished all-round show for each match, including overhead cameras, bands, dancers, fireworks and dj’s to mention a few. And to add more spice to the mix, each team is part-owned by legendary Bollywood stars like Shahrukh Khan and Shilpa Shetty, who attend each match with their entourage and really get into the cricket vibe.

IPL Dancing girls

The big names of cricket have come to the party and have put on flamboyant show so far to match their bright stylish gear: big hitters such as Matthew Hayden, Yusuf Pathan and Chris Gayle have been on superb form as have some new stars on the scene too, like Kamran Khan and Yusuf Abdulla. As for the gear, well it is completely over the top Indian style: black and gold of the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Rajasthan Royals’ royal blue and the Kings XI Punjab in their bright red and silver. And the dancing girls have gear to match, just a little less of it. And the crowds have really been coming out to get in the spirit of this cricket fest. Stadiums have been sold out since the beginning and the vibe in the crowds has been really electric with local South Africans really getting behind their chosen teams. Plus we have seen quite a few international Indian travelers attending the games too. And they as we know are extremely passionate about their cricket.

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty

With a month of cricket still left, the IPL promises to continue serving up the finest sports entertainment available as the round-robin phase winds up and heads towards the playoffs. So for those of you out there, considering traveling to SA to watch some of this amazing sporting action and enjoy South Africa too, see our IPL travel specials:www.africabespoke.com/travel-specials/cricket.html