Lalit Modi’s journey from obscurity to becoming a billionaire and one of cricket’s most influential figures is a tale of resilience and vision. From having his idea of the Indian Premier League (IPL) rejected by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 1995 to becoming the youngest vice-president of the organization, Modi’s rise has been extraordinary. In a recent discussion, he reminisced about a pivotal moment from 2007, involving cricketing legend Yuvraj Singh.
Reflecting on Yuvraj’s iconic feat of hitting six sixes in an over during the T20 World Cup match against England at Kingsmead, Durban, Modi revealed how that moment became a cornerstone for the IPL’s foundation. He also shared an interesting anecdote about gifting Yuvraj a Porsche in exchange for the Hero Honda bat with which the cricketer demolished Stuart Broad on September 19, 2007.
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“No one had ever hit six sixes in an over before. I had told the players, ‘Anyone who hits six sixes or takes six wickets in an over, I’ll give you a Porsche out of my pocket—nothing to do with the BCCI.’ And then, Yuvraj blasted those sixes! That moment ignited the fire for the IPL. It revolutionized Indian television and captivated the news channels,” Lalit Modi said during a conversation with popular YouTuber Raj Shamani.
LalitModi added with a laugh, “After the match, Yuvraj came running to me on the field, saying, ‘Lalit, where’s my Porsche?’ I told him, ‘Give me that bat,’ and the bat is now downstairs at my place.”
As the architect of the IPL, Lalit Modi was instrumental in transforming Indian cricket into a global brand. Serving as the League’s first chairperson and commissioner, his tenure from 2008 to 2010 marked the IPL’s rise as a premier sporting event.
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Lalit Modi also served as the BCCI’s vice-president from 2005 to 2010. However, his controversial exit from Indian cricket came after facing legal troubles, leading him to seek refuge abroad. Despite the controversies, Modi’s influence on Indian cricket’s commercialization remains unmatched.
