Lalit Modi credits ‘good friend’ Vijay Mallya for backing IPL from the start: ‘You may have your bias’
In an X post, Lalit Modi claimed that Vijay Mallya has done more for IPL than anyone “living”. His post has sparked a discussion on social media.
Lalit Modi has shared a snippet from a recent interview of Vijay Mallya, in which the latter speaks about buying the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team and being a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In his post, Modi, the architect of IPL, praised Mallya for “believing in his dreams” and labelled him as a “good friend”.

“How did my good friend #vijaymallya buy @royalchallengers.bengaluru team in the @iplt20 I created. Hear from the man himself. He was the first person to support me making the #ipl blindly. Also was its biggest sponsor and has since day one been its most loyal ardent fan and followers. For which I will always be grateful,” Lalit Modi wrote.
Also Read: ‘After 18 long years’: Vijay Mallya, son Sidhartha react to RCB’s win in IPL 2025
He added, “One must give credit where credit is due. Further he has always done more for the game and the fans then anyone LIVING I KNOW. And believe me I know better than ANYONE Else living. You may have your bias. But I am known to call a spade a spade.” Responding to the X post, Mallya shared, “Thank you Lalit.”
The video Modi shared shows Mallya in conversation with YouTuber Raj Shamani. In the recently released podcast, the former airline owner opened up about loans, RCB, and allegations against him.
This is not the first time the duo has interacted on social media. Last year, Mallya reacted to Lalit Modi's birthday wish.
Also Read: Vijay Mallya recalls picking Virat Kohli for RCB as a youngster: ‘Remarkable he stayed for 18 years’
“Wishing you my friend #vijaymallya a very #happybirthday - life sure has its ups and downs we have both seen it. This too shall pass. May the year ahead be your year. And you are surrounded by love and laughter. Big big hug,” Lalit Modi wrote on X.
In response the former RCB owner posted, “Thank you my dearest friend….we both have been wronged in a Country we tried to contribute to.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORTrisha SenguptaTrisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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