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The Indian Premier League (IPL) has evolved into one of the biggest franchise leagues in the world. The inaugural edition took place in 2008 and exceeded the expectations of investors, viewers, etc. While many believe that the idea came after India’s historic T20 World Cup 2007 triumph in South Africa under the leadership of MS Dhoni, the idea of a cricket league came to former IPL chairman Lalit Modi in the 1990s.
Modi studied at the Duke University in North Carolina. He wasn't an entrepreneur back then and was arrested for conspiracy to traffic cocaine, assault, and second-degree kidnapping. He pleaded guilty to his crimes and got a suspended two-year prison sentence and a five-year probation in addition to 100 hours of community service by Durham County Court.
Modi’s vision to make a cricket league equivalent to NBA
In the 1990s, Modi had seen the success of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He intended to achieve something similar with a cricket tournament. The first-ever T20 match was yet to be played but the 1996 ODI World Cup had been a huge success. He knew the potential considering that cable television becoming accessible in more cities in the 1990s and ODI cricket attracted millions of fans in India.
Modi’s proposal to BCCI
He went to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and submitted a proposal that featured city-based privately owned teams. Like the IPL, it would also feature overseas players. He intended to replace daily soaps and wanted a prime-time slot so that they got day/night matches to reach a wider audience. The tournament will be played from four to six weeks a year. However, the BCCI rejected his proposal. The board was not open to private organisations owning teams and the idea of a league of this stature seemed too far-fetched for them.
T20 becomes popular
In 2003, the first-ever T20 match was played in England between Hampshire Hawks and Sussex Sharks featuring legendary Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram. In February 2005, the first-ever T20I was played between Australia and New Zealand. More than a couple of years later, the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup was played in South Africa where India beat Pakistan in a last-ball thriller.
Modi’s rise in BCCI
The fast-paced format was the need of the hour and more marketable. Meanwhile, Modi has made his way to BCCI as well. He became Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) vice-president president in 2005 and helped Sharad Pawar become BCCI president. Later, he was appointed as vice president of the BCCI.
Modi’s masterplan
Modi managed to rope in 80 top ICC-ranked players from nine countries. The broadcast rights for India and overseas were sold for a whopping Rs 4,080 crore. 14 corporates bid for the eight franchises. While there were a few franchises that had links with BCCI, Modi said that the bidding process was open and transparent for all. The mega auction was a big hit as it intrigued fans but it wasn’t until the opening match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) when Brendon McCullum set the stage on fire, that he learned the magnitude of it.
IPL became what Modi had expected it to do and more. It had replaced daily soaps to a great extent considering its prime time slot. Fans flocked to the stadiums and the first-of-its-kind cricket league became a big hit and continues to do so 16 editions later.
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