As things have turned out here in Bangalore, the Corporate Trophy hasn’t quite set the stadium alight. There have been more players and support staff in the two dressing rooms than spectators in the stands, and except for a few whistles and cheers at each Team India member’s entry, the competition has been overshadowed by dark clouds, the rain, and the upcoming Karnataka Premier League — even on the eve of the final between Air India Red and Air India Blue.

Each day, KPL franchises are appointing brand ambassadors, jerseys are being unveiled and anthems released by India team members, with most high-end parties making it to the entertainment pages (Mangalore United — or Man United as they call themselves — have been getting a lion’s share of the headlines).

But even though it has failed at the mass-appeal level, the Corporate Trophy has gained critical acclaim for serving as a warm-up event for the Indians ahead of the new season. Rahul Dravid played two 50-over matches after a span of 17 months to prepare for his ODI comeback, and scored back-to-back, typically solid, half-centuries; Mahendra Singh Dhoni, looking to free his arms after a long break, got going with a smashing hundred in the first game; Gautam Gambhir worked his way back into form with consecutive fifties; Suresh Raina seemed to get over the short-ball blues with a workmanlike 90, while Yuvraj Singh was his usual, breezy self.

The bowlers too used this opportunity, with Ishant doing a neat job at first-change, and RP Singh using favourable conditions to stake his claim with the new ball. Praveen Kumar struggled to find breakthroughs but spinners Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra have mesmerised with their flight and turn.

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