India, March 27 -- The IPL invited private investment into cricket and discovered (perhaps accidentally) a magic formula that makes insane money for everyone playing this game. The IPL changed cricket's architecture by creating a Rs27 crore player and an alternate power centre - the team owner, the new boss.

Team owners are serious businessmen who invested serious money into cricket. For them, the franchise is a commercial asset (some dismiss it as an expensive toy) and the IPL is both pleasure and business.

The IPL investor/owner calls the shots, he holds the remote control and pushes buttons. During auctions, he takes calls on the careers of players by picking up the paddle, or shaking his head to reject those he does not fancy.

IPL ...