Look what Chris Gayle has done

We are three weeks into the IPL and more than Rs10,000 crore has already exchanged hands in the betting market. Mumbai, Pune and several cities in Gujarat and northern India are the so-called ‘hot spots’.

If Manik Lal, president, Bookies Association of India, is to believed, these are unprecedented numbers. “Gone are the days when people used to deal in pethis (lakhs).

Now, it’s about khokas (crores),” he says. Lal adds that money flows in crores. “Over Rs10,000 crore must have exchanged hands from the time the first ball was bowled in the IPL this year,” he reveals.

He claimed that betting in cricket (under cover) is next only to horse racing in the country.

“Cricket is worshipped in our country. And bookies and punters are among them,” he added.

The UEFA Champions League, the English Premier League and the Bangladesh Premier League are also on the bookies’ radar.

Back to the IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore were second when the odds opened on April 2. But after Gayle’s unbeaten 175, RCB have displaced Chennai Super Kings at the top. “The odds may change as the final approaches, but at the end of the day it is the bookies who are laughing their way to the bank,” Lal says.

Punters in Mumbai have not given up on Mumbai Indians. Bangalore are the favourites to win the championship at Rs 2.60, while Chennai (Rs 2.70) are not far behind. Chennai, who were pre-tournament favourites, were available at Rs 4.05 on April 2. RCB opened at Rs 5. Pune Warriors, who were placed ninth (Rs 9.25), are now available at 25. Delhi are placed last (Rs 30) as of now.