NEW DELHI: The debate over Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)-led IPL cheerleaders has pitted Indian politicians against team owners. While Maharashtra government believes ‘scantily clad’ cheerleaders demean Indian culture and has banned them from performing in the upcoming April 27 match in Mumbai, IPL team owners argue that they add significant entertainment value to the game. Apart from spending heavily on winning team rights and player contracts, the team owners have additionally spend millions on glitz and glamour to add more appeal to their IPL teams. Some of the cheerleaders have been specially flown in from the USA. The Vijay Mallya-owned Bangalore Royal Challengers team roped in Washington Redskins Cheerleaders to be its official cheerleaders.
Amrit Thomas, executive vice-president, United Spirits, which owns Bangalore’s Royal Challengers, feels cheerleaders add significant entertainment value to the game. “Cheerleaders are an integral part of the T20 format. They do not interact with the audience and are on the ground just to cheer their teams. This not only creates a style statement but also brings in entertainment for the audience,” he says.
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