Lalit Modi stands defiant on IPL legacy: 'Without me it wouldn't work'; regrets giving BCCI too much power

Lalit Modi remained associated with the IPL until the end of its third season

Updated on: Jun 3, 2026, 10:14:19 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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The Indian Premier League has evolved into much more than just a cricket tournament. Besides being one of the richest sporting leagues in the world, it has become the benchmark for franchise-based competitions globally, inspiring several leagues across countries. It has also influenced how cricket boards identify and evaluate players for major tournaments.

Lalit Modi was the architect of the league. Former India cricketer Saba Karim recently revealed that Modi had first pitched the concept to the BCCI in the late 1990s, even before T20 cricket existed. The IPL was eventually launched in 2008 and concluded its 19th edition on May 31, with its valuation now soaring to unprecedented levels.

Speaking to Wisden for The Scoop Extended, Modi mounted a fierce defence of his IPL legacy. He claimed the tournament would never have succeeded without him and insisted that, despite years of criticism, he does not view any of his decisions as mistakes.

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He said, “I was cut to size because of many other issues. Everybody was jealous. It wouldn’t have worked if I had not been who I was. The IPL wouldn’t have worked if not for me. Why are you talking to me 17 years later, despite me not being part of the game since then?

"It (the idea of the IPL) just didn’t come out of thin air. It went through a lot of scientific research and a lot of learnings of mine. Everybody 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 ever do this again, it wouldn’t be any different from what I did last time.”

Modi remained associated with the IPL until the end of its third season. In 2010, he was removed as IPL commissioner and BCCI vice-president before being handed a life ban from cricket administration over corruption-related charges. The allegations included irregularities in the bidding process for two new franchises in 2010, as well as the unauthorised sale of broadcasting and internet rights.

Modi also reflected on what he considers his biggest regret from his time running the league. He admitted that he left India without putting in place a governance structure that would have given the IPL and its franchises a greater role in the tournament's administration, adding that he handed too much power to the BCCI despite having the leverage to shape the league differently.

Modi said, “I regretted the fact that I left India without doing certain things that had to be done. The founder of the IPL should always get a seat on the board of the league. I gave too much power to the BCCI.

"I could have dictated at the time what I wanted because everybody thought it was going to fail. They didn’t really care about it. I had already written the constitution of a separate company being formed. Obviously, the BCCI would continue to get the money, but the governance of the league should have been in partnership with the IPL owners along with the BCCI.”

Since 2011, Chirayu Amin, Rajiv Shukla, Ranjib Biswal, Brijesh Patel and Arun Singh Dhumal have served as IPL chairman. Dhumal has held the position since assuming office in 2022.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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