'It’s like watching an intra-squad match' - Ryan Campbell on Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians' jerseys

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is heading towards the completion of the second week, with all the teams having played three matches at least. The Royal Challengers Bangalore sit at the top of the table with three wins in as many games, while the Sunrisers Hyderabad remains to be the only team that is yet to open their account, having lost all three of their encounters so far.

The 13th match of the league pitted up Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians against Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals, where the latter emerged as the winners as they restricted MI to the lowest score of the tournament this year (137/9) before they chased it down with five balls to spare and six wickets in hands.

Notably, both sides have similar, blue jerseys that do not have much to differentiate if not looked at with keen eyes. The jerseys of Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore are a case in point too.

It’s like watching an intra-squad match: Ryan Campbell

Sharing his views on the encounter between Delhi and Mumbai, Ryan Campbell, the Dutch cricket coach, tweeted “I really enjoy the @IPL but can someone tell me why the richest cricket competition doesn’t have home & away strips? Watching @mipaltan v @DelhiCapitals. It’s like watching an intra-squad match.”

“I once had similar questions from an American watching cricket for the first time during the 2011 World Cup: “Why are half the teams in the tournament wearing green jerseys? And why don’t they have an alternate (color) jersey on the days they are playing against each other?” responded author Peter Della Penna, lending his support to Campbell’s contention. Although, cricket commentator and broadcaster Simon Doull replied with thinking emoticons “It’s not Rugby mate.”

Unlike other sports such as Rugby or Football, where the players mingle with each other due to the nature of the sport, making it difficult for the viewers to distinguish if they wear similar jerseys, in cricket, the two teams can be distinctly identified by the roles they play, as one team bats and the other fields. Yet, the simple question that comes to mind is: why despite as many options do the franchises go with the same colors? And, at times, even the same shade. Any idea, anyone…?

Meanwhile, here’s the interaction:

😂 It’s not Rugby mate.. 🤔🤔

— Simon Doull (@Sdoull) April 20, 2021