Former IPL chairman and millionaire Lalit Modi has defended his role in the creation of the IPL, and expressed regret over his removal from the league's organizing committee and executive board.
Indian Premier LeagueEstablished in 2008, it is often credited as the brainchild of Modi, as he came up with the idea and presented it to the BCCI. The league merged cricket and entertainment together, kicking off the wheel of franchise leagues taking over the cricket ecosystem.
Speaking about the creation of the league, Modi recalled the hours of extensive research done before putting everything together and said he backs himself to have similar success if he is able to do it again in this day and age.
Speaking to Wisden for Scoop Extended, Modi said, “It (the idea of IPL) didn't come out of thin air. It went through a lot of scientific research and a lot of my learnings. Everyone around the world has tried to create what I created and failed. When people say, I made a mistake, I didn't make a mistake. If I had to do it again, it would be no different from the last time.”
But luck was not on Modi's side, as he was suspended by the BCCI after the third season of the tournament in 2010 due to concerns regarding financial irregularities and misconduct. He was later expelled by the board and banned for life, which also forced him to leave the local cricket administration.
Modi expressed regret at not being able to meet some of the objectives he had set and for not being more strict in his demands regarding his participation in the functioning of the League.
“I regret that I left India without doing some important work. The founder of the IPL should always have a seat on the board of the league, I gave too much power to the BCCI. I could have decided whatever I wanted at that time because everyone thought it would fail. They didn't really care, I had already written the constitution to form a separate company. Obviously, the BCCI will continue to get money but the league should be run in partnership with the IPL owners Was. BCCI.
The IPL, in its 19th season, has grown into a global sporting phenomenon and has set records in terms of earnings, viewership and broadcast deals. Returning to the sporting arena, defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2026 season became the third team to successfully defend their title with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31.
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