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Lalit Modi is perhaps one of modern India’s most conspicuous exiles. A figure who once sat at the centre of cricket’s power now watches it from afar. Often seen in the United Kingdom in the company of fallen titans of Indian business, he remains as visible in absence as he once was in authority.
Exile in Modi’s case has not resembled exile as history often remembers it. Unlike the near-solitary existence of those cast out before him, his life in London has remained public, even opulent. Images of that life surface often on Indian social media. His conversation with Sportstar took place from his home in London — seated in a plush meeting room, relaxed, punctuating his answers with regular puffs from a vape, glasses refilled with regularity.
Modi, the founding chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and a key architect of its commercial rise, saw his tenure end in acrimony with his expulsion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). But the distance since has done little to temper either his claims or his convictions. He now believes the league and its franchises have left significant value unrealised because the BCCI has not adhered to what he describes as a key contractual commitment: a full home-and-away schedule.
His comments come at a time when franchise valuations continue to surge, reinforcing the IPL’s position as one of the most lucrative sporting leagues in the world. Recently, two franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), changed hands, underlining the growing appetite among investors for a stake in the league’s expanding ecosystem. A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group emerged as the lead bidder to acquire RCB for a reported USD 1.78 billion (approximately ₹16,700 crore), while RR was acquired by a US-based consortium led by Kal Somani for USD 1.63 billion (approximately ₹15,290 crore).
Despite these soaring valuations, Modi believes the league’s true commercial potential is still far from fully realised. He reiterated that the IPL was originally conceived as an independent entity rather than a subsidiary of the BCCI, with a governance structure that would have placed franchise owners at the centre of decision-making, similar to the model followed in major American sports leagues.
“That was how it was proposed on September 13, 2007, and the BCCI Governing Council approved that the IPL was not a subsidiary of the BCCI. It was an independent company,” Modi said.
“I got a lot of backlash… ‘if you want to launch it, it’s going to be this way.’ It was set up with the owner sitting on the board and controlling it like the National Football League (NFL). I will reveal that Constitution one day, but that is actually the fact of what was approved in the Special General Meeting prior to the press conference that I held. Thereafter, it was changed in November or December 2007, in Jaipur, where others got involved and said that this can’t be done.”
Modi recalled that resistance to an independent league structure meant compromises had to be made to ensure the tournament’s launch remained on track. While he acknowledges that the IPL has achieved unprecedented success over the past 18 years, he believes the league might have grown even more rapidly had the original governance framework been retained. With the majority not in favour of creating an independent league, Modi admitted he had “many fires to douse” and chose his battles.
“Had the original structure remained, with owners represented on the board and the league controlling its own operations, the IPL would by now have been an ecosystem unto itself. It would have been untouchable by any company of any kind on the planet,” he said. “We would be controlling everything and marketing our own product through our own streaming system globally by now.”
That tension between vision and control would, in time, lead to a far more consequential rupture.
Back in 2013, Modi was found guilty on eight counts of “various acts of indiscipline and misconduct” by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee, a decision that culminated in his expulsion from Indian cricket’s administrative structure.
Since leaving India in 2010, Modi has faced over two dozen cases, including multiple investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged financial irregularities, money laundering, and violations under FEMA. Investigations have also involved the Income Tax Department, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and passport authorities, with non-bailable warrants issued in certain cases. Modi is yet to physically appear before an Indian court in these matters.
More than a decade on, Modi continues to contest both the process and the substance of those findings. He maintains that the allegations against him were never tested in a court of law and that no formal charges were framed in a judicial setting.
He also questions the procedural fairness of the BCCI’s internal disciplinary proceedings, claiming he was denied a meaningful opportunity to present his case before the committee.
“I wasn’t even given a fair hearing. The day I was to appear before the committee and answer questions, I was effectively banned before I could present my case,” Modi said.
The Kochi IPL franchise controversy in 2010 was the one that truly opened the floodgates of the accusations against him. Modi was accused of rigging the bidding in favour of a few corporate players and arm-twisting stakeholders thereafter. He suggested that he had faced sustained pressure to step down but chose not to do so voluntarily. He alleged that attempts were made to prevent him from addressing the public at the time, although the speech was eventually broadcast.
“I was asked to resign and told I could return in six months. I said, ‘If you have the guts, fire me.’…” he said.
In his telling, the rupture was not of his making. It is a story of power and politics, of people of influence who, he believes, chose to turn on him. To him, it is less about wrongdoing and more about being pushed out of a system he helped build.
Positioning his defence within his business background, Modi emphasised that he had no financial incentive to engage in wrongdoing.
It is an argument of inheritance. Modi was born into wealth — heir to the KK Modi enterprise, with interests spanning tobacco, hospitality, and chemicals — a life that began with a ‘diamond spoon’.
“I come from an established business family; I did not need to take money from the league. The KK Modi Group is valued in the hundreds of thousands of crores. The suggestion that I would risk everything for relatively small sums makes no sense,” Modi claimed.
He added that he had retained documentation relating to key decisions taken during his tenure and reiterated his belief that a full legal process would bring greater clarity.
“I have always said that if the matter is tested in court, the full record will emerge through discovery. Despite the controversies, the IPL has only grown stronger. If I had to do it again, I would still take the same decisions because they ultimately strengthened the league.”
When he speaks, there is an unyielding certainty – something close to the belief that he could not have been wrong, a trait not unfamiliar among those cast out yet unconvinced.
That certainty extends beyond his defence of the past to his reading of the present and, in particular, what he believes the IPL is still getting wrong.
Home and away is where the value is
While Modi believes the IPL’s long-term dominance is secure, he remains critical of certain structural decisions taken in recent years. His sharpest criticism was directed at the league’s scheduling format, which he argues has diluted the commercial value promised to franchises at the time of purchase.
According to Modi, franchise agreements were based on a format in which every team would face each other twice, once at home and once away. When the IPL expanded to 10 teams in 2022, such a structure would have resulted in a 90-match league phase followed by four playoff fixtures. Instead, the tournament continues to operate with a 74-match format, meaning several teams do not play all opponents twice in a season.
“(For) every game, the BCCI gets 50 per cent, and the remaining 50 per cent is distributed to teams. So teams are now losing out on 20 games.
It is by contractual obligation for the fees that they’re paying to provide them home and away,” he said.
“The home and away is where the value is. If you don’t have time in your calendar, don’t increase the number of teams. Simple as that. That’s not what we sold. Has everybody signed off on it? I guarantee not.”
Modi argued that the absence of a full home-and-away structure has a direct financial impact on both franchises and the board, particularly in terms of media rights revenue, which remains the primary driver of IPL income.
“If there were 94 matches today on a home-and-away basis, Rs 118 crore a game, it’s Rs 2,400 crore just from media rights. That’s Rs 2,400 crore extra coming to the BCCI,” he said.
“Out of this, Rs 1,200 crore would have gone to the 10 teams. Each team would have got Rs 120 crore, and the team value should automatically have been higher.”
From a commercial standpoint, Modi believes increasing the number of matches would not dilute interest but rather enhance engagement by strengthening local rivalries and increasing inventory for broadcasters and advertisers.
Media rights still the primary growth engine
Since the IPL’s inception in 2008, debates have continued over what truly fuels its commercial success. While fan engagement, merchandising and match-day experience are often highlighted as growth pillars, Modi believes media rights remain the single biggest contributor to the league’s rapid financial expansion.
“Fans, too, haven’t played a role yet. It’s primarily the media rights right now,” he said.
“Ticketing hasn’t played a role yet, nor has merchandising, because we are still a relatively young league. For now, we are seeing limited fan bases in pockets, in Bengaluru to a certain extent, in Mumbai and Chennai. That’s it currently… Nobody has asked why it is limited to only three franchises.”
According to Modi, only a few early franchise owners invested significantly in developing team identities beyond on-field performances, focussing on brand-building initiatives that helped create loyal fan communities.
“Vijay Mallya was a showman. His brand was associated with the spirits business, and he spent out-of-proportion money building the base with a liquor brand. With the Mumbai Indians, the Mukesh Ambani family went out of their way. N. Srinivasan did a very smart thing with India Cements buying Chennai Super Kings. A lot of investment was done in building fan bases,” he said.
“None of the other teams did significant brand extension or marketing. They built the team based on personalities and media rights and did no brand building at all.”

Star power: Before rivalries were built on runs and wickets, Lalit Modi sold the IPL’s first night as a clash of personas: Shah Rukh Khan vs Vijay Mallya, not KKR vs RCB. | Photo Credit: AFP
Star power: Before rivalries were built on runs and wickets, Lalit Modi sold the IPL’s first night as a clash of personas: Shah Rukh Khan vs Vijay Mallya, not KKR vs RCB. | Photo Credit: AFP
Modi also recalled the strategic importance of bringing Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on board as co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, a move he considers central to the league’s early mass appeal beyond traditional cricket audiences.
“I needed women and children to watch the league, and for that, I needed Shah Rukh. He was a very big part of the IPL and it was do-or-die for me,” Modi said.
“That’s why the first match was purposely scheduled as a clash between the teams owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Vijay Mallya in Bengaluru. It was not KKR versus RCB. Nobody knew KKR and RCB in those days. The headline was Shah Rukh Khan versus Vijay Mallya.”
IPL is ‘recession-proof’
Soon after the inaugural season in 2008, the global financial crisis cast doubts over the sustainability of major sporting investments worldwide. However, at the 2009 players’ auction in Goa, Modi declared that the IPL was recession-proof, a claim he continues to stand by nearly two decades later.
“The IPL is on the cusp of dominating the world. Earlier, we were dependent on broadcasters through television networks and cable. Data was expensive and the world was still small. Today, viewing has shifted to multiple devices,” he said.
“90 per cent of the business lies here. You don’t need a cable operator, you don’t need fibre, you don’t need a broadcaster. Now it can be streamed directly.”
Modi emphasised that advertising continues to form the backbone of the league’s commercial structure, with innovations such as the strategic timeout designed specifically to expand advertising inventory.
“Our market is still advertisement driven. We are sustaining this growth only on advertising, and we are still a fraction of the revenue advertisers are willing to pay for an IPL spot.
“I never sold media rights; I sold 2,600 seconds in my media product. I created a paradigm of selling slots between overs and across digital platforms. I moved it from 2,000 seconds to 2,600 seconds with the strategic timeout because I didn’t have enough advertising inventory. It was done purely for commercial purposes.”
Improving infrastructure and enhancing fan experience

Immersive cricket: For Lalit Modi, the next IPL leap lies not on the pitch, but in turning match-day into an experience. | Photo Credit: ANI
Immersive cricket: For Lalit Modi, the next IPL leap lies not on the pitch, but in turning match-day into an experience. | Photo Credit: ANI
While franchise owners have increasingly expanded into overseas T20 leagues in recent years, Modi believes these investments will not dilute the IPL’s dominance, primarily because Indian players remain restricted from participating in most foreign leagues.
“The Indian players can never play outside of India, period,” Modi said. “It’s enshrined in my IPL contract, it’s enshrined in everything that we do. So, even if the owners go anywhere, it won’t have an impact.”
However, he stressed that improving stadium infrastructure and overall fan experience should be a key priority for Indian cricket administrators, given the scale of revenues generated by the IPL.
“If I was sitting in the BCCI today, with the money that we earn, I would scrap all our stadiums and build luxurious modern facilities, with amazing bathrooms, air-conditioning, escalators, glass buildings to give an unparalleled experience to the spectators,” Modi said.
During his tenure, American architectural firm HKS Inc., which designed several major global sporting venues including the NFL’s Lucas Oil Stadium, conducted a study of stadium infrastructure in India.
“All the stadiums were unfit to hold matches. I presented the studies to the BCCI, but nothing was done,” he said.
“We talk about building a stadium for Rs 400 crore, Rs 300 crore, Rs 200 crore, but the standards are still below par compared to premium global sporting arenas,” Modi said, adding: “If it was in my system, I would spend the next one year investigating where the money goes, and follow the money. It’s not going to the players for sure, it’s not being spent on infrastructure for sure…”
Modi believes the spectator experience remains one of the least developed aspects of the IPL ecosystem.
“Nobody cares about the fans,” he said. “I was the biggest proponent of fans. Sadly, there is no proactive work at the BCCI level, or the State Association level, in looking after the fans.”
Referring to last year’s stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden title win, Modi stressed the need for better crowd management and safety infrastructure.
“We need total fan protection, total fan experience, everything else is out of the window…”
According to him, replicating the match-day experience offered by top European football clubs could transform the relationship between fans and franchises.
“If you give him or her the experience that he or she gets in an international venue for a Barcelona game, or a Real Madrid game, or an Arsenal game, or a Chelsea game, there will be a complete paradigm shift,” he said.
Player treatment and franchise culture
In the ongoing edition of the IPL, Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka attracted criticism after his alleged on-field exchange with captain Rishabh Pant went viral on social media. While such incidents have surfaced previously, Modi believes they set an unhealthy precedent for player-owner relationships.
“Sanjiv is my brother-in-law. He is married to my first cousin, my mother got him married to my first cousin, so I’ve grown up with that kid. I don’t have any animosity with him. You don’t treat players as if they’re your servants or your slaves. You don’t treat your employees like that. So, when I see these kinds of things happening, somebody has to have the guts to talk about it. That’s why I bash him, not because of anything,” Modi said.
“While football league owners treat players with respect, long-term vision, and professionalism, IPL owners are often busy chasing hype and headlines, publicly berating captains right on the boundary after tough losses,” Modi added.
A creator and a disruptor
Back in 2007, when Modi first proposed a franchise-based T20 league that would blend sport and entertainment, scepticism was widespread. Nearly two decades later, the IPL has reshaped the global cricket economy and become one of the most valuable sports properties in the world. Looking back on that journey, Modi says he wants to be remembered as someone who changed the way cricket was consumed, packaged and commercialised.
“I was a disruptor, I was a creator, I was a game changer,” he said with a smile.
“Now, commentators aren’t allowed to take my name, nobody’s allowed to, but it doesn’t matter, they’re immaterial to me. The fans understand it, and that’s what matters to me. Nothing else does…”
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Lalit Modi is perhaps one of modern India’s most conspicuous exiles. A figure who once sat at the centre of cricket’s power now watches it from afar. Often seen in the United Kingdom in the company of fallen titans of Indian business, he remains as visible in absence as he once was in authority.
Exile in Modi’s case has not resembled exile as history often remembers it. Unlike the near-solitary existence of those cast out before him, his life in London has remained public, even opulent. Images of that life surface often on Indian social media. His conversation with Sportstar took place from his home in London — seated in a plush meeting room, relaxed, punctuating his answers with regular puffs from a vape, glasses refilled with regularity.
Modi, the founding chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and a key architect of its commercial rise, saw his tenure end in acrimony with his expulsion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). But the distance since has done little to temper either his claims or his convictions. He now believes the league and its franchises have left significant value unrealised because the BCCI has not adhered to what he describes as a key contractual commitment: a full home-and-away schedule.
His comments come at a time when franchise valuations continue to surge, reinforcing the IPL’s position as one of the most lucrative sporting leagues in the world. Recently, two franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), changed hands, underlining the growing appetite among investors for a stake in the league’s expanding ecosystem. A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group emerged as the lead bidder to acquire RCB for a reported USD 1.78 billion (approximately ₹16,700 crore), while RR was acquired by a US-based consortium led by Kal Somani for USD 1.63 billion (approximately ₹15,290 crore).
Despite these soaring valuations, Modi believes the league’s true commercial potential is still far from fully realised. He reiterated that the IPL was originally conceived as an independent entity rather than a subsidiary of the BCCI, with a governance structure that would have placed franchise owners at the centre of decision-making, similar to the model followed in major American sports leagues.
“That was how it was proposed on September 13, 2007, and the BCCI Governing Council approved that the IPL was not a subsidiary of the BCCI. It was an independent company,” Modi said.
“I got a lot of backlash… ‘if you want to launch it, it’s going to be this way.’ It was set up with the owner sitting on the board and controlling it like the National Football League (NFL). I will reveal that Constitution one day, but that is actually the fact of what was approved in the Special General Meeting prior to the press conference that I held. Thereafter, it was changed in November or December 2007, in Jaipur, where others got involved and said that this can’t be done.”
Modi recalled that resistance to an independent league structure meant compromises had to be made to ensure the tournament’s launch remained on track. While he acknowledges that the IPL has achieved unprecedented success over the past 18 years, he believes the league might have grown even more rapidly had the original governance framework been retained. With the majority not in favour of creating an independent league, Modi admitted he had “many fires to douse” and chose his battles.
“Had the original structure remained, with owners represented on the board and the league controlling its own operations, the IPL would by now have been an ecosystem unto itself. It would have been untouchable by any company of any kind on the planet,” he said. “We would be controlling everything and marketing our own product through our own streaming system globally by now.”
That tension between vision and control would, in time, lead to a far more consequential rupture.
Back in 2013, Modi was found guilty on eight counts of “various acts of indiscipline and misconduct” by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee, a decision that culminated in his expulsion from Indian cricket’s administrative structure.
Since leaving India in 2010, Modi has faced over two dozen cases, including multiple investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged financial irregularities, money laundering, and violations under FEMA. Investigations have also involved the Income Tax Department, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and passport authorities, with non-bailable warrants issued in certain cases. Modi is yet to physically appear before an Indian court in these matters.
More than a decade on, Modi continues to contest both the process and the substance of those findings. He maintains that the allegations against him were never tested in a court of law and that no formal charges were framed in a judicial setting.
He also questions the procedural fairness of the BCCI’s internal disciplinary proceedings, claiming he was denied a meaningful opportunity to present his case before the committee.
“I wasn’t even given a fair hearing. The day I was to appear before the committee and answer questions, I was effectively banned before I could present my case,” Modi said.
The Kochi IPL franchise controversy in 2010 was the one that truly opened the floodgates of the accusations against him. Modi was accused of rigging the bidding in favour of a few corporate players and arm-twisting stakeholders thereafter. He suggested that he had faced sustained pressure to step down but chose not to do so voluntarily. He alleged that attempts were made to prevent him from addressing the public at the time, although the speech was eventually broadcast.
“I was asked to resign and told I could return in six months. I said, ‘If you have the guts, fire me.’…” he said.
In his telling, the rupture was not of his making. It is a story of power and politics, of people of influence who, he believes, chose to turn on him. To him, it is less about wrongdoing and more about being pushed out of a system he helped build.
Positioning his defence within his business background, Modi emphasised that he had no financial incentive to engage in wrongdoing.
It is an argument of inheritance. Modi was born into wealth — heir to the KK Modi enterprise, with interests spanning tobacco, hospitality, and chemicals — a life that began with a ‘diamond spoon’.
“I come from an established business family; I did not need to take money from the league. The KK Modi Group is valued in the hundreds of thousands of crores. The suggestion that I would risk everything for relatively small sums makes no sense,” Modi claimed.
He added that he had retained documentation relating to key decisions taken during his tenure and reiterated his belief that a full legal process would bring greater clarity.
“I have always said that if the matter is tested in court, the full record will emerge through discovery. Despite the controversies, the IPL has only grown stronger. If I had to do it again, I would still take the same decisions because they ultimately strengthened the league.”
When he speaks, there is an unyielding certainty – something close to the belief that he could not have been wrong, a trait not unfamiliar among those cast out yet unconvinced.
That certainty extends beyond his defence of the past to his reading of the present and, in particular, what he believes the IPL is still getting wrong.
Home and away is where the value is
While Modi believes the IPL’s long-term dominance is secure, he remains critical of certain structural decisions taken in recent years. His sharpest criticism was directed at the league’s scheduling format, which he argues has diluted the commercial value promised to franchises at the time of purchase.
According to Modi, franchise agreements were based on a format in which every team would face each other twice, once at home and once away. When the IPL expanded to 10 teams in 2022, such a structure would have resulted in a 90-match league phase followed by four playoff fixtures. Instead, the tournament continues to operate with a 74-match format, meaning several teams do not play all opponents twice in a season.
“(For) every game, the BCCI gets 50 per cent, and the remaining 50 per cent is distributed to teams. So teams are now losing out on 20 games.
It is by contractual obligation for the fees that they’re paying to provide them home and away,” he said.
“The home and away is where the value is. If you don’t have time in your calendar, don’t increase the number of teams. Simple as that. That’s not what we sold. Has everybody signed off on it? I guarantee not.”
Modi argued that the absence of a full home-and-away structure has a direct financial impact on both franchises and the board, particularly in terms of media rights revenue, which remains the primary driver of IPL income.
“If there were 94 matches today on a home-and-away basis, Rs 118 crore a game, it’s Rs 2,400 crore just from media rights. That’s Rs 2,400 crore extra coming to the BCCI,” he said.
“Out of this, Rs 1,200 crore would have gone to the 10 teams. Each team would have got Rs 120 crore, and the team value should automatically have been higher.”
From a commercial standpoint, Modi believes increasing the number of matches would not dilute interest but rather enhance engagement by strengthening local rivalries and increasing inventory for broadcasters and advertisers.
Media rights still the primary growth engine
Since the IPL’s inception in 2008, debates have continued over what truly fuels its commercial success. While fan engagement, merchandising and match-day experience are often highlighted as growth pillars, Modi believes media rights remain the single biggest contributor to the league’s rapid financial expansion.
“Fans, too, haven’t played a role yet. It’s primarily the media rights right now,” he said.
“Ticketing hasn’t played a role yet, nor has merchandising, because we are still a relatively young league. For now, we are seeing limited fan bases in pockets, in Bengaluru to a certain extent, in Mumbai and Chennai. That’s it currently… Nobody has asked why it is limited to only three franchises.”
According to Modi, only a few early franchise owners invested significantly in developing team identities beyond on-field performances, focussing on brand-building initiatives that helped create loyal fan communities.
“Vijay Mallya was a showman. His brand was associated with the spirits business, and he spent out-of-proportion money building the base with a liquor brand. With the Mumbai Indians, the Mukesh Ambani family went out of their way. N. Srinivasan did a very smart thing with India Cements buying Chennai Super Kings. A lot of investment was done in building fan bases,” he said.
“None of the other teams did significant brand extension or marketing. They built the team based on personalities and media rights and did no brand building at all.”

Star power: Before rivalries were built on runs and wickets, Lalit Modi sold the IPL’s first night as a clash of personas: Shah Rukh Khan vs Vijay Mallya, not KKR vs RCB. | Photo Credit: AFP
Star power: Before rivalries were built on runs and wickets, Lalit Modi sold the IPL’s first night as a clash of personas: Shah Rukh Khan vs Vijay Mallya, not KKR vs RCB. | Photo Credit: AFP
Modi also recalled the strategic importance of bringing Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on board as co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, a move he considers central to the league’s early mass appeal beyond traditional cricket audiences.
“I needed women and children to watch the league, and for that, I needed Shah Rukh. He was a very big part of the IPL and it was do-or-die for me,” Modi said.
“That’s why the first match was purposely scheduled as a clash between the teams owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Vijay Mallya in Bengaluru. It was not KKR versus RCB. Nobody knew KKR and RCB in those days. The headline was Shah Rukh Khan versus Vijay Mallya.”
IPL is ‘recession-proof’
Soon after the inaugural season in 2008, the global financial crisis cast doubts over the sustainability of major sporting investments worldwide. However, at the 2009 players’ auction in Goa, Modi declared that the IPL was recession-proof, a claim he continues to stand by nearly two decades later.
“The IPL is on the cusp of dominating the world. Earlier, we were dependent on broadcasters through television networks and cable. Data was expensive and the world was still small. Today, viewing has shifted to multiple devices,” he said.
“90 per cent of the business lies here. You don’t need a cable operator, you don’t need fibre, you don’t need a broadcaster. Now it can be streamed directly.”
Modi emphasised that advertising continues to form the backbone of the league’s commercial structure, with innovations such as the strategic timeout designed specifically to expand advertising inventory.
“Our market is still advertisement driven. We are sustaining this growth only on advertising, and we are still a fraction of the revenue advertisers are willing to pay for an IPL spot.
“I never sold media rights; I sold 2,600 seconds in my media product. I created a paradigm of selling slots between overs and across digital platforms. I moved it from 2,000 seconds to 2,600 seconds with the strategic timeout because I didn’t have enough advertising inventory. It was done purely for commercial purposes.”
Improving infrastructure and enhancing fan experience

Immersive cricket: For Lalit Modi, the next IPL leap lies not on the pitch, but in turning match-day into an experience. | Photo Credit: ANI
Immersive cricket: For Lalit Modi, the next IPL leap lies not on the pitch, but in turning match-day into an experience. | Photo Credit: ANI
While franchise owners have increasingly expanded into overseas T20 leagues in recent years, Modi believes these investments will not dilute the IPL’s dominance, primarily because Indian players remain restricted from participating in most foreign leagues.
“The Indian players can never play outside of India, period,” Modi said. “It’s enshrined in my IPL contract, it’s enshrined in everything that we do. So, even if the owners go anywhere, it won’t have an impact.”
However, he stressed that improving stadium infrastructure and overall fan experience should be a key priority for Indian cricket administrators, given the scale of revenues generated by the IPL.
“If I was sitting in the BCCI today, with the money that we earn, I would scrap all our stadiums and build luxurious modern facilities, with amazing bathrooms, air-conditioning, escalators, glass buildings to give an unparalleled experience to the spectators,” Modi said.
During his tenure, American architectural firm HKS Inc., which designed several major global sporting venues including the NFL’s Lucas Oil Stadium, conducted a study of stadium infrastructure in India.
“All the stadiums were unfit to hold matches. I presented the studies to the BCCI, but nothing was done,” he said.
“We talk about building a stadium for Rs 400 crore, Rs 300 crore, Rs 200 crore, but the standards are still below par compared to premium global sporting arenas,” Modi said, adding: “If it was in my system, I would spend the next one year investigating where the money goes, and follow the money. It’s not going to the players for sure, it’s not being spent on infrastructure for sure…”
Modi believes the spectator experience remains one of the least developed aspects of the IPL ecosystem.
“Nobody cares about the fans,” he said. “I was the biggest proponent of fans. Sadly, there is no proactive work at the BCCI level, or the State Association level, in looking after the fans.”
Referring to last year’s stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden title win, Modi stressed the need for better crowd management and safety infrastructure.
“We need total fan protection, total fan experience, everything else is out of the window…”
According to him, replicating the match-day experience offered by top European football clubs could transform the relationship between fans and franchises.
“If you give him or her the experience that he or she gets in an international venue for a Barcelona game, or a Real Madrid game, or an Arsenal game, or a Chelsea game, there will be a complete paradigm shift,” he said.
Player treatment and franchise culture
In the ongoing edition of the IPL, Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka attracted criticism after his alleged on-field exchange with captain Rishabh Pant went viral on social media. While such incidents have surfaced previously, Modi believes they set an unhealthy precedent for player-owner relationships.
“Sanjiv is my brother-in-law. He is married to my first cousin, my mother got him married to my first cousin, so I’ve grown up with that kid. I don’t have any animosity with him. You don’t treat players as if they’re your servants or your slaves. You don’t treat your employees like that. So, when I see these kinds of things happening, somebody has to have the guts to talk about it. That’s why I bash him, not because of anything,” Modi said.
“While football league owners treat players with respect, long-term vision, and professionalism, IPL owners are often busy chasing hype and headlines, publicly berating captains right on the boundary after tough losses,” Modi added.
A creator and a disruptor
Back in 2007, when Modi first proposed a franchise-based T20 league that would blend sport and entertainment, scepticism was widespread. Nearly two decades later, the IPL has reshaped the global cricket economy and become one of the most valuable sports properties in the world. Looking back on that journey, Modi says he wants to be remembered as someone who changed the way cricket was consumed, packaged and commercialised.
“I was a disruptor, I was a creator, I was a game changer,” he said with a smile.
“Now, commentators aren’t allowed to take my name, nobody’s allowed to, but it doesn’t matter, they’re immaterial to me. The fans understand it, and that’s what matters to me. Nothing else does…”
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Lalit Modi is perhaps one of modern India’s most conspicuous exiles. A figure who once…
A high speed police chase through Southern California ended in dramatic fashion on Wednesday when…
Apr 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) shakes hands with general manager Ron Francis for his 1000th game presentation before the match against the Utah Mammoth at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images Ron Francis, a key part of the Seattle Kraken organization since before the team’s first game, is exiting as the team’s hockey operations president effective the end of the season.
The Kraken announced Wednesday that Francis and the team “mutually agreed” to his exit.
“Ron and I agreed that this is the right moment to make a thoughtful transition for both Ron and the organization, and move in a new direction,” Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said in a statement. “From a small office in Lower Queen Anne to the 32nd NHL franchise, Ron’s leadership and vision were instrumental in building this franchise from the ground up.
“Under his stewardship, we reached the playoffs in our second season, and he leaves behind a strong foundation of draft picks and promising prospects that will continue to shape the future of the team. We are grateful for his dedication and professionalism, and we wish Ron and his family the very best.”
Francis added in a statement, “It has been an honor to help launch and lead the Seattle Kraken over the past seven years. I am proud of the culture we built, the people we brought together, and the milestones we achieved, including our historic first playoff run.
“I want to thank our entire ownership group, everyone throughout the organization, and our incredible fans for their unwavering support. This organization has a bright future, and I’m grateful to have been part of its beginning.”
Francis, 63, joined the Kraken as general manager in 2019, two years ahead of their first game. He led the club’s expansion draft that resulted in Seattle getting to the second round of the postseason in their second season.
Last year, Francis moved from the general manager role to president of hockey operations, with Jason Botterill rising from assistant GM to general manager.
Botterill, 49, will now head the Kraken’s hockey operations.
With five games remaining, Seattle (32-34-11, 75 points) is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third year in a row. The team collapsed in the past month, going 3-12-2 since March 4.
Lane Lambert is in his first season as the Kraken’s head coach.
Francis played 23 seasons as a center in the NHL and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. In 16 seasons for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, eight for the Pittsburgh Penguins and one for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he produced 549 goals, 1,249 assists (second in NHL history) and 1,798 points (fifth).
He served in the Hurricanes’ front office from 2011-18.
–Field Level Media
Apr 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) shakes hands with general manager Ron Francis for his 1000th game presentation before the match against the Utah Mammoth at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images Ron Francis, a key part of the Seattle Kraken organization since before the team’s first game, is exiting as the team’s hockey operations president effective the end of the season.
The Kraken announced Wednesday that Francis and the team “mutually agreed” to his exit.
“Ron and I agreed that this is the right moment to make a thoughtful transition for both Ron and the organization, and move in a new direction,” Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said in a statement. “From a small office in Lower Queen Anne to the 32nd NHL franchise, Ron’s leadership and vision were instrumental in building this franchise from the ground up.
“Under his stewardship, we reached the playoffs in our second season, and he leaves behind a strong foundation of draft picks and promising prospects that will continue to shape the future of the team. We are grateful for his dedication and professionalism, and we wish Ron and his family the very best.”
Francis added in a statement, “It has been an honor to help launch and lead the Seattle Kraken over the past seven years. I am proud of the culture we built, the people we brought together, and the milestones we achieved, including our historic first playoff run.
“I want to thank our entire ownership group, everyone throughout the organization, and our incredible fans for their unwavering support. This organization has a bright future, and I’m grateful to have been part of its beginning.”
Francis, 63, joined the Kraken as general manager in 2019, two years ahead of their first game. He led the club’s expansion draft that resulted in Seattle getting to the second round of the postseason in their second season.
Last year, Francis moved from the general manager role to president of hockey operations, with Jason Botterill rising from assistant GM to general manager.
Botterill, 49, will now head the Kraken’s hockey operations.
With five games remaining, Seattle (32-34-11, 75 points) is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third year in a row. The team collapsed in the past month, going 3-12-2 since March 4.
Lane Lambert is in his first season as the Kraken’s head coach.
Francis played 23 seasons as a center in the NHL and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. In 16 seasons for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, eight for the Pittsburgh Penguins and one for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he produced 549 goals, 1,249 assists (second in NHL history) and 1,798 points (fifth).
He served in the Hurricanes’ front office from 2011-18.
–Field Level Media
Apr 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson (6) shakes hands with…
Paris Saint-Germain was left ruing missed chances that kept Liverpool in contention in its Champions League quarterfinal despite a convincing 2-0 home win in Wednesday’s first leg, with the visiting side admitting it had been in survival mode for long spells.
The defending champion prevailed thanks to goals by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes missed golden chances in the second half that would have virtually sent it into the semifinals.
“We had clear chances to score more goals. We kept Liverpool alive, but we’re happy with the performance. We want to stick to the same approach — it’s what we’ve been doing for a long time,” fullback Achraf Hakimi said.
Teammate Warren Zaire Emery, who with Joao Neves and Vitinha bossed the midfield, also regretted the missed opportunities.
“We could have scored more goals, which is a shame. 2-0 is already good, but nothing is done. We’ll go there with the same intentions, looking to win the match,” he said.
“We’ll need to stay focused and do what we did here. We always try to prepare games the same way, playing as high up the pitch as possible. We had plenty of chances and should have put them away.”
Coach Luis Enrique echoed the sentiment.
“It’s a shame, clearly. We put in a performance worthy of our supporters. We played very well and deserved more goals. But this is the Champions League. We’re happy, and there’s still the second leg to come,” he said.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Paris Saint-Germain was left ruing missed chances that kept Liverpool in contention in its Champions League quarterfinal despite a convincing 2-0 home win in Wednesday’s first leg, with the visiting side admitting it had been in survival mode for long spells.
The defending champion prevailed thanks to goals by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes missed golden chances in the second half that would have virtually sent it into the semifinals.
“We had clear chances to score more goals. We kept Liverpool alive, but we’re happy with the performance. We want to stick to the same approach — it’s what we’ve been doing for a long time,” fullback Achraf Hakimi said.
Teammate Warren Zaire Emery, who with Joao Neves and Vitinha bossed the midfield, also regretted the missed opportunities.
“We could have scored more goals, which is a shame. 2-0 is already good, but nothing is done. We’ll go there with the same intentions, looking to win the match,” he said.
“We’ll need to stay focused and do what we did here. We always try to prepare games the same way, playing as high up the pitch as possible. We had plenty of chances and should have put them away.”
Coach Luis Enrique echoed the sentiment.
“It’s a shame, clearly. We put in a performance worthy of our supporters. We played very well and deserved more goals. But this is the Champions League. We’re happy, and there’s still the second leg to come,” he said.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Paris Saint-Germain was left ruing missed chances that kept Liverpool in contention in its Champions…
Apr 8, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) dribbles the ball up court as Memphis Grizzlies forward Toby Okani (5) guards in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Jamal Murray scored 26 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th triple-double of the season, and the host Denver Nuggets won their 10th in a row, 136-119, over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
Denver (52-28) has its first double-digit winning streak since the 2012-13 season and moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets finish their regular season with two games against the top seeds in the Western Conference — home against Oklahoma City on Friday and Sunday night at San Antonio.
Los Angeles (50-29) holds the tiebreaker over Denver.
Cameron Johnson had 18 points and Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 in his 1,000th career game, Christian Braun also had 14 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown contributed 13 each and Julian Strawther added 10.
Valanciunas, who was recognized for his milestone game, picked up four fouls in less than four minutes in the second quarter but came alive in the fourth when he scored 10 points.
Cedric Coward finished with 27 points for Memphis (25-55). The Grizzlies have lost six in a row and 18 of their last 20.
Taylor Hendricks and Lucas Williamson scored 16 apiece, Walter Clayton Jr. and Toby Okani had 15 points each and Adama Bal added 12 points for Memphis.
The Grizzlies, despite being without several top players, went on a 23-6 run in the second quarter to lead by eight. Denver clawed back to take a two-point lead late but Williamson was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit the free throw, then added a short hook shot to give Memphis a 72-68 halftime lead.
The Grizzlies opened an eight-point lead early in the third but the Nuggets went on a 14-3 run to go ahead 84-81 midway through the period. Jokic got his 10th assist during the spurt to secure his 198th career triple-double.
Denver extended the lead to 107-94 heading to the fourth and went ahead 121-100 with 6:32 left in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
Apr 8, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) dribbles the ball up court as Memphis Grizzlies forward Toby Okani (5) guards in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Jamal Murray scored 26 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th triple-double of the season, and the host Denver Nuggets won their 10th in a row, 136-119, over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
Denver (52-28) has its first double-digit winning streak since the 2012-13 season and moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets finish their regular season with two games against the top seeds in the Western Conference — home against Oklahoma City on Friday and Sunday night at San Antonio.
Los Angeles (50-29) holds the tiebreaker over Denver.
Cameron Johnson had 18 points and Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 in his 1,000th career game, Christian Braun also had 14 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown contributed 13 each and Julian Strawther added 10.
Valanciunas, who was recognized for his milestone game, picked up four fouls in less than four minutes in the second quarter but came alive in the fourth when he scored 10 points.
Cedric Coward finished with 27 points for Memphis (25-55). The Grizzlies have lost six in a row and 18 of their last 20.
Taylor Hendricks and Lucas Williamson scored 16 apiece, Walter Clayton Jr. and Toby Okani had 15 points each and Adama Bal added 12 points for Memphis.
The Grizzlies, despite being without several top players, went on a 23-6 run in the second quarter to lead by eight. Denver clawed back to take a two-point lead late but Williamson was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit the free throw, then added a short hook shot to give Memphis a 72-68 halftime lead.
The Grizzlies opened an eight-point lead early in the third but the Nuggets went on a 14-3 run to go ahead 84-81 midway through the period. Jokic got his 10th assist during the spurt to secure his 198th career triple-double.
Denver extended the lead to 107-94 heading to the fourth and went ahead 121-100 with 6:32 left in the fourth.
–Field Level Media
Apr 8, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) dribbles the ball…
Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 9.
KKR finally earned a point after a much-anticipated clash against Punjab Kings ended with no result due to rain. Meanwhile, LSG emerged victorious in a tightly contested match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Lucknow sits sixth in the points table with one win from three matches whereas Kolkata will hope to climb the ladder having earned only a solitary point in three games due to a no result.
Lucknow won this fixture in 2025 in a high scoring game by four runs.
Here are the live streaming and telecast details for the match
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be played on April 9, 2026.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST.
The toss of the IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants is scheduled to take place at 7:00 PM IST.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be televised on the Star Sports Network in India.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be streamed live on the Jio Hotstar app and website.
Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Rahul Tripathi, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Tim Seifert, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Cameron Green, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Matheesha Pathirana, Kartik Tyagi, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prashant Solanki.
Rishabh Pant (C), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammad Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 9.
KKR finally earned a point after a much-anticipated clash against Punjab Kings ended with no result due to rain. Meanwhile, LSG emerged victorious in a tightly contested match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Lucknow sits sixth in the points table with one win from three matches whereas Kolkata will hope to climb the ladder having earned only a solitary point in three games due to a no result.
Lucknow won this fixture in 2025 in a high scoring game by four runs.
Here are the live streaming and telecast details for the match
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be played on April 9, 2026.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST.
The toss of the IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants is scheduled to take place at 7:00 PM IST.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be televised on the Star Sports Network in India.
The IPL 2026 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants will be streamed live on the Jio Hotstar app and website.
Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Rahul Tripathi, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Tim Seifert, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Cameron Green, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Navdeep Saini, Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Matheesha Pathirana, Kartik Tyagi, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prashant Solanki.
Rishabh Pant (C), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammad Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata…
Mark Calcavecchia, shown in 2024, was ejected from the 2026 Masters for phone use. The Masters enforced its policy banning phone use at Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday even with a big-name golfer involved.
Former major champion Mark Calcavecchia was escorted off the grounds by security after using his phone, Golfweek reported.
Calcavecchia, 65, was in attendance as an “honorary invitee,” not a player. The 1989 Open Championship winner, Calcavecchia was a 13-time champion in a PGA Tour career that saw him play in the Masters 18 times.
Reached on the phone by Golfweek, Calcavecchia didn’t refute the report of his ejection, though he offered no details. He added, “I’ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now,” which he then did.
Others including coaches and media members have been removed from the Masters over the years for using phones. Augusta National’s rules ban cell phones, laptops, tablets and two-way pagers in an attempt “to maintain a traditional atmosphere,” Golfweek reported.
–Field Level Media
Mark Calcavecchia, shown in 2024, was ejected from the 2026 Masters for phone use. The Masters enforced its policy banning phone use at Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday even with a big-name golfer involved.
Former major champion Mark Calcavecchia was escorted off the grounds by security after using his phone, Golfweek reported.
Calcavecchia, 65, was in attendance as an “honorary invitee,” not a player. The 1989 Open Championship winner, Calcavecchia was a 13-time champion in a PGA Tour career that saw him play in the Masters 18 times.
Reached on the phone by Golfweek, Calcavecchia didn’t refute the report of his ejection, though he offered no details. He added, “I’ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now,” which he then did.
Others including coaches and media members have been removed from the Masters over the years for using phones. Augusta National’s rules ban cell phones, laptops, tablets and two-way pagers in an attempt “to maintain a traditional atmosphere,” Golfweek reported.
–Field Level Media
Mark Calcavecchia, shown in 2024, was ejected from the 2026 Masters for phone use. The…
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is in its business end as the 10th round takes place on Thursday. Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov continues to lead the Open section, while India’s R. Vaishali shares the lead with China’s Zhu Jiner in the Women’s section.
Here’s all the information regarding the Indian players in action in the 10th round:
R. Praggnanandhaa (Black) vs Javokhir Sindarov (White)
Divya Deshmukh (White) vs Aleksandra Gorychkina (Black)
R. Vaishali (Black) vs Anna Muzychuk (White)
You can catch the Indian players live in action at the FIDE Candidates 2026 on the FIDE YouTube channel.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is in its business end as the 10th round takes place on Thursday. Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov continues to lead the Open section, while India’s R. Vaishali shares the lead with China’s Zhu Jiner in the Women’s section.
Here’s all the information regarding the Indian players in action in the 10th round:
R. Praggnanandhaa (Black) vs Javokhir Sindarov (White)
Divya Deshmukh (White) vs Aleksandra Gorychkina (Black)
R. Vaishali (Black) vs Anna Muzychuk (White)
You can catch the Indian players live in action at the FIDE Candidates 2026 on the FIDE YouTube channel.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is in its business end as the 10th round takes…
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