Lalit Modi, the founding commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), believes that the league and its franchises have not reached their full potential due to the BCCI’s failure to fulfill a core contractual commitment of providing franchises with a complete home and away schedule. Recently, two franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, were sold to new owners for staggering amounts.
Modi revealed that the IPL was initially intended to be an independent entity, separate from the BCCI. However, the structure was changed in 2007, leading to a loss of control over the league’s operations. Despite this, Modi believes that the IPL remains dominant in the cricketing world.
He criticized the current format of the IPL for not honoring franchise agreements. Modi highlighted that each team should play the others twice, home and away, but the league has been operating with fewer matches than required. This shortfall in matches directly impacts the franchise value and revenue distribution.
Modi emphasized the importance of maintaining the original structure of the league to maximize its potential. He argued that playing all matches home and away would significantly increase the franchise value and revenue generated for the BCCI. Modi believes that the IPL’s success is unmatched by any other cricket league and sees no threat to its dominance in the future.
The full interview with Lalit Modi will be featured in an upcoming issue of Sportstar magazine.
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