Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim reveals that Lalit Modi pioneered the T20 franchise concept more than a decade ago IPL began. Karim said Lalit first came up with the idea in 1997-98, at a time when the T20 format had not entered the cricketing world.
At the time, cricket consisted only of ODIs and Tests, but Lalit aimed to introduce a stronger, more exciting format very early on. Karim said that Lalit had also planned to form a team for Bengal by selecting players from different regions and submitted the proposal to the BCCI, although the idea never materialized.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Karim said, “Not many people know that Mr. Lalit Modi came up with the T20 franchise cricket concept in 1997-98. Much before the IPL started, he had submitted a proposal to the BCCI suggesting the creation of a league like it. At that time there was no concept of T20, it was mainly ODIs.”
He said, “We were going to make a team for Bengal. We had also signed a contract with them. It was decided that each team would have 2-3 players from outside. Due to various reasons it was not possible. But it was in our mind that we should make such a league.”
This early approach laid the groundwork for the explosive start of the IPL a decade later. In 2008, the IPL began with eight teams competing in a double round-robin format, showcasing Modi's blueprint of high-octane cricket, featuring big hitting, fast bowling spells and lively celebrations across India.
The IPL has now completed 18 editions, and the 19th edition is set to begin on March 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) facing off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) remain the most successful franchises with five titles each, while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have won three titles. After a wait of 17 years, RCB won the trophy in 2025.
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