Bad news for Kochi Tusker’s fans’!! The new franchise of the Indian Premier League has been suspended due to defaulting on payments. Yes folks, you might not be able to cheer for your home team next IPL season! In spite of BCCI’s constant reminders for payment, it seems the Kochi Tusker’s team holders have not paid their dues. The team has also not renewed their bank guarantee which is to be renewed every year.

Kochi IPL fans had already got a shock when the location for Kochi matches was switched over from Kochi to Ahmedabad (from next season onwards). Now, even though the concerned officials from Kochi Tusker’s Kerala have denied the fact that they do not owe money to the BCCI, the control has been lost from them anyways.

Well, Kochi Tusker’s Kerala was always in the news for the wrong reasons. From naming the team, ownership deals and more, the team has had a tough time ever since the beginning. Don’t you remember how Shashi Tharoor had to resign his ministerial post, all because he ‘supposedly’ had a share in the Kochi IPL team? So now, let’s see how the story furthers. Or is this the end to Kochi Tusker’s Kerala, a team which was much awaited and anticipated? Or is it just another setback drama which fans are forced to watch?

Kochi had an unbelievable weekend! With the IPL finals and UEFA Champions league to add to the glee, sports-lovers in the city could not ask for more. Excitement was filled in the air and youngsters flooded in hotels and pubs which had the ‘big screen’.

“The last time we had so much of fun was during the cricket World Cup finals. What a day that was? I had one of the best times with friends. Sad that the IPL got over! Maybe now we can look forward for the West Indies series”, said Nishanth Narayanan, an immigration executive from Kochi. The IPL this time did go on for long. And some cricket-fans also agree to the fact that it was dragging and got boring towards the end. But with the addition of two new teams, Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors, IPL added more fans to its kitty.

“It’s all about money and I’am sure the franchisees would have made more than crores by now. Anyways, what matters to us is entertainment. I would be happy if I get my dose of it every year”, said Nimal Raj, who resides in Kalamassery. Well, for sure it’s all about money. With Chennai Super Kings crowned ‘The King’ again, fans of other teams have lost their hope. But hey, cheer up, this ain’t the end to it. You can wait for the next season for unplugged action and entertainment.

The hungama, debates and pondering over IPL Kochi seems to be taking a backseat, we decided to ask Kochiites what they thought about all this hungama, we received mixed emotions from Kochiites. Kochivibe managed to ask people from various walks of life, their take on Kochi IPL. And here is what we got!

Shopkeepers or businessmen around the Kaloor stadium premises are the ones who have benefitted from IPL, the most. Ajith Lal, who is the manager for 11 varieties, a restaurant in Kaloor-Kadavanthra road says that the sales rise to 30% when there is an IPL match. “Crowd swarms into the restaurant after 10p.m. when there is a match at the stadium. And that can be seen in the drastic rise in sales at the end of the day “, claims Ajith. So does the tremendous hike in sales for those shawarma shops and ‘thattukadas’ in the locale require a special mention??!!

Ejaz Ahmed, a resident of Kochi feels that IPL matches helps Kochi grow economically too. “IPL helps Kochi stand in a global platform, and this shall turn out to be a blessing to our city. Changing the venue is sad”, says Ejaz. This is the voice of young Kochi, and they think having a team for our own is more than ‘adipoli’! J

But yeah, we do have a category who opposes IPL as well . You guessed it right, it’s the ‘parents section’ of the town! “Other than spoiling the kids and wasting their time, these IPL matches don’t do any good. The franchisees make so much of money, and they benefit too much out of it. So who are the losers here?”, says Girija Krishnakumar, a housewife from Kochi.

Here are the two sides of the coin. And what is your take on the IPL, Kochi??

Not many people knew that Kerala hosted such great talent in cricket, and this is the story of a boy from the small town, who has made it big in the national platform. Prasanth Parameswaran took 2 wickets for 29 runs for Kochi Tuskers  against Delhi Daredevils.

This young lad hails from Muhamma in Alappey, and comes from a middle- class family who has had their share of problems over the years. When Prasanth aspired to be a cricketer, lest did his father Parameshwaran know that his son would make a huge wave in his first match against biggies. And that too with the wickets of biggies like Sehwag taken in the first go, looks like we can see this player creating historic wins soon.

Prasanth has always been into cricket and even shifted to Kochi, did his graduation from St. Alberts, to pursue his dreams as a cricketer. Things have not been easy for 25 years old, and his destination till Kochi IPL team has been tough. But yeah, playing great cricket and being able to woo the audience in his first match is not an easy thing. We hope to see more of great cricket from you Prasanth Parameswaran, bring it on!

After so many conjectures and discussions about Sreesanth’s ‘cricket’, our boy has made sure that he puts in some really good performance for the IPL. And all Sreesanth fans out there ‘heaved a sigh of relief’ when the star brought in some good act for the last couple of matches, and yeah the ‘show’ was commendable and palpable too! It is nice to know that he has come out of the ‘many negative interpretations and opinions’ about his cricket. And by playing the game well, he has shown all ‘anti-Sreesanth’ (:D) people out there that he can bring in a
great show, when in good form.

“Sreesanth’s performance in the last four matches was great. People need to be aware of his track records and talents before criticizing him too much. The general Mallu psyche of hating to see one amongst us in a good position needs to be shed off. It’s easy to bring things down and this can affect the player too. But it’s a different story when we say we love and support them”, says Harish Manohar, a hard-core cricket fan from Kochi. Aby Mathew adds to this by saying that cricket is a game where you cannot expect the players to be in consistent form always, and people have to accept it.

Looks like ‘our boy’ has captured a lot more minds by playing the game well! 4 overs, 1 maiden over, and 22 runs in the match against Deccan Chargers, 4 overs, 1 maiden over, 10 runs and 2 wickets in the second match against Delhi. And 4 overs, 24 runs and 1 wicket in the last match ain’t a bad try Sreesanth. And here’s wishing you more of good luck!

Looks like Kochi would have to forget the IPL matches in our hometown, thanks to the Kochi Corporation and its ‘not very coordinative’ authorities. Neither our Corporation officials nor the police force in the city, have shown any interest in the IPL matches happening in Kochi from the beginning. And the latest incident of the Corporation not ‘sealing’ the tickets for the IPL have turned out to be a major hitch in the successful sale of tickets, and also adds to the tension in Kochi IPL team.

Also, when Corporations of other cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai have deduced the tax for the IPL teams, our Corporation ensured that things go haywire there too! And when asked to Tony Chammany, our Mayor, all he had to blame was the lack of funds in our Corporation when compared to the big ones. Well, is that even a reason? But after this whole hue and cry, Kochiites also seem to be irritated with the mindset of our officials who do not welcome anything new. “Those officials are stuck with stereotypes. Or else, they could’ve easily coordinated with the IPL officials and made things easier. But they want to add to the confusion, and we shall lose out watching games in Kochi from the next season”, says Nitin Chandran, who lives near Vytilla.

Well, it does look like Kochi IPL might not be lucky enough to play in their hometown next season, with all the unfortunate incidents that have been happening. But let’s hope for the best!

Owners loosing faith?

It was the 3rd match in Kochi yesterday, and it looks like Kochiites are ‘not yet in the mood’ for cricket! Even the previous two matches that were played against the biggies did not fetch an ‘expected’ crowd. Where are all the love cricket-lovers?

This ‘uninteresting’ attitude of Kerala cricket fans to the 20-20 matches might end up in the franchisees moving the game to Ahmedabad, or maybe even some other place. The match, which was scheduled for 27th, saw extremely poor response. The attempts of the franchisees and authorities to give the ‘one ticket free if you take two tickets’ also does not seem to please cricket-fans around the city. To top it all, Federal Bank (the official suppliers for the tickets) is on a holiday today, as the workers have gone on strike. The tickets came to the market on 25th, and with 26th being a holiday, the ‘interested cricket lovers’ have only 27th, the D-Day for the match as the day to get tickets!

With the Corporation showing minimal interest in ‘sealing’ the tickets for sale, and government officials turning their backs every time, IPL in Kochi does not look like it might last for long. C’mon cricket lovers, show your love!

He is one of the youngest personalities in Indian Politics, and has already made it big in the national political scene. His face is not new to Kochiites, and young Kochiites look up to this smart lad. His charming personality magnetizes you more, and his amazing knowledge and awareness about topical issues is mind-blowing. He has been there, done that, and of course, knows it all! We present before you Hibi Eden, the smart, young, charismatic politician who was born and brought up in our own Kochi. Here is what he has gotta say about Kochi, his life and more…..

Elections are over and you must be really worried and anxious??

Not really, because I hardly get time to be nervous. I’am so engaged with my day-to-day activities, and hence doesn’t really get the time to think of it. It’s only when people talk about elections and results, do I even think of them. Now, I’am pretty chilled out!

What was your inspiration into politics?

Honestly, I was not someone who ever thought of joining politics. When I finished my10th, I was not even interested in it. It all started with my life in Sacred Hearts College in Thevara. I was so inspired by one of my seniors named Anoop, who played an active part in college politics those days. He was a KSU leader and an artist as well. And he is someone who gave me tremendous positive vibes. Knowing my political background, he used to call me for meetings, discussions and talks (related to KSU). I gradually started showing interest in politics, and got to know more about student organizations. Once Anoop’s batch left college, there was thorough vacuum, and we had to fill it. That is howI became full-fledged in politics.

And what about your entry into National Politics?

I was the district President for KSU, and was highly concerned with their work. My father passed away when I was 20 years old, and things did change for me from then. I was very close to Mr K. Karunakaran, and when he decided to leave Congress, I decided to stick on. That is one crucial decision that I took in my life. Rahul Gandhi was looking for someone to head the NSUI, and that is when I was invited to Delhi. But yeah, I did have to face umpteen interviews, group discussions and so on to prove myself. And hence I could be a part of NSUI.

Don’t you think it’s high time that young guys come to the political scenario of
our country?

Generally, people have a feeling that politics is ‘corrupt’, and media has added to it. The ordinary citizens feel that more young people should enter politics. And I personally think that, youngsters can change the system. Their energy level is so high, and we can contribute tremendously to the nation-building process!

So the hurdles that you had to go through would be terrible?

Yes, I did have to go through a lot of hurdles. There have been days when I had faced financial setbacks, and when I was called to Delhi, I couldn’t even go due to lack of finance. They would ask me to reach there in a day, and the flight charges were so expensive. But now AICC provides me with flight tickets, and I have an office in Delhi as well. During the last 11 years of my student life, I had to go through major obstacles. But thanks to the masses, my work was appreciated and upon everything else I have my father’s blessing in abundance. And yes, my dad’s goodwill also helped me a lot.

What d you have to say about Anna Hazare and the Lokpal Bill?

I prefer not to comment on that.

So how do you spend your free time?

I read a lot, and love listening to songs. I have a lot of friends around, and most of them are still in Kochi. I’am a foodie, and loves exploring new restaurants and food joints, especially the non-veg ones.

So why is that we don’t see Hibi Eden much in media when compared to the other politicians?

People have a feeling that politicians know everything under the sun, which is of course not true. I prefer talking about things and issues that I know. If you don’t have the knowledge or if you are not aware of something, it’s best that you don’t comment on it. But I have taken part in a few talk shows. Time is also a constraint. I make a media appearance when I have the time.

Do you watch the IPL matches and are you supporting Kochi Tuskers Kerala?

I was a hard-core cricket fan, but once the match-fixing issue happened, I lost faith in it. I’am not very keen on cricket anymore, but would like to know who won and who lost, especially if India is playing.

Tell us something about your personal life.

I was born and brought up in Kochi, and hence I’am proud to say that I’am a total Kochiite. I did my schooling partially from Toc-H Public School, and then moved to CCPLM. I was more of a quiet student during school days, and I did my pre-degree and degree from Sacred Hearts in Thevara. I’am Commerce graduate, and also pursued my law from Trivandrum Law College. But I could not complete my law course. My mother passed away when I was 4 years, and father passed away when I was 20. I’ve gained a lot of mental strength after all that I have gone through in my life. And I have reached a stage where I can prevail over anything that comes by way.

What do you have to tell our Kochivibe readers?

Being a Kochiite who was born and bought up here, I know every nook and corner of my city. And my election campaigns added to my knowledge about Kochi. Kochi has so much of potential which is unexplored, and I would say that it is the fastest growing city in the state. Young Kochi has a major role to play, and should act as a pressuring force. They should be more involved in the thought process. Each one of us has a social responsibility that needs to be fulfilled. And to all the young Kochiites out there, enjoy life to the fullest!

For musicians and bands that still haven’t got the opportunity to play their songs last audition, you still haven’t missed the chance! You can cheer our home team Kochi Tuskers by being a part of the band that shall play during the match, and all you need to do is do your best for the auditions. The huge success of their first attempt (Eventz Entertainment People Studio) has flowered, and hence they want more people to join in and do their best this time too. The success of our team in the past few matches and the wide support from Malayalis across the
globe is shown clearly in each match.

You just have to impress the panel of judges with the good music you have, and your door to fame is open. The entries must reach them before the 23rd of April, and can be sent to infoeventzep@gmail.com with band auditions. Also, it would be great if you could send them your previous performance pictures, which can make your entry look super good and beautiful.
This is the biggest ever sporting event people, join on, give your best shot, andlet’s cheer for Kochi Tuskers Kerala!

Looks like Kochi has been celebrating so much over the past few weeks. When elections and Vishu marked the start to celebrations, IPL matches made sure to steal the show too! Kochi Tuskers winning against super biggies like Chennai Super Kings is no child’s play.Didn’t our team prove that we can beat the biggies with that little bit of effort and giving the real shot??!! Even though the clouds threatened the play with rains, our benign rain-gods showered mercy instead of rain! In spite of the game facing a setback after the first few over’s (due to rain), it soon got back! And then, Kochi witnessed some real cricket sport from our Tuskers.
When superstar Mohanlal with India renowned director Priyadarshan, and pretty lady Lakshmi Rai, made their presence in the stadium, the crowd had more to cheer for! When our very own rock band ‘Avial’ played their music, the crowd went gaga. And yeah we did have Kochi’s own DJ Savio play there! As usual, he came up with good music and more surprises. Adding to the glitz and glamour, Ranjini Haridas too made her presence, hence adding to the charisma in the stadium. And when Kochi won, the crowd showed their love, prop up and adoration for Kochi Tuskers! Go Kochi, let’s see Kochi bringing home more triumph!