“We Won, And That Was The Start Of Modern Cricket” – Lalit Modi opens up on IPL’ – Lalit Modi Reveals the Political Battles Behind the Birth of the IPL

The Seeds of a Revolution

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is widely regarded as the most transformative event in modern cricket history, turning the sport into a multi-billion-dollar commercial juggernaut. However, the genesis of this franchise-based powerhouse was not merely a boardroom decision; it was the result of a tumultuous and high-stakes power struggle within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In a candid reflection on Ridhima Pathak’s show, Bad Decisions, former administrator Lalit Modi peeled back the curtain on the intense political maneuvering that preceded the launch of the league.

The Battle for the BCCI Presidency

At the center of this narrative was the 2005 BCCI presidential election. Lalit Modi, having long harbored a vision for a city-based T20 league modeled after successful American sports franchises, understood that such a project required a shift in leadership. To achieve this, he spearheaded a campaign to install Sharad Pawar as the president of the BCCI.

Modi described the environment as nothing short of a war zone. The initial attempt to secure the presidency ended in a narrow defeat—a loss decided by a single vote. According to Modi, internal fractures within their own ranks, specifically involving the Pune Cricket Association, allowed the opposing faction led by Jagmohan Dalmia to sway the outcome. It was a wake-up call that professionalized the nature of their political resistance.

The Supreme Court Intervention

The intensity of the feud only escalated the following year. Determined to ensure a fair process, Modi took a bold, unprecedented step. He secured an ex-parte order from the Supreme Court of India, which mandated that the election be supervised by two retired Supreme Court judges. This move caught the opposition entirely off guard.

Modi recalled the dramatic scene on November 29, 2005, in Kolkata: “Mr. Dalmia is sitting at the table, and he was going to disqualify quite a few of us. I am there at the right time and I present the Supreme Court order. There was uproar. Police bandobast had to be done.” The arrival of the two judges effectively halted the established order of the day and ensured that the power shift could not be obstructed by traditional political maneuvering.

Aggressive Tactics and Allegiances

The atmosphere surrounding the election was marked by extreme measures. Modi did not shy away from the reality of the situation, admitting that both camps engaged in aggressive tactics to secure their numbers. From diverting flight plans to ensure key members were kept away from rival influences to managing delegates, the election was a display of sheer grit and strategy.

Modi highlighted that the opposition included prominent figures such as Anurag Thakur, Arun Jaitley, and N. Srinivasan, all of whom stood behind the Dalmia faction. Despite the weight of these names, Modi’s group successfully navigated the political minefield, citing a platform of merit-based management and a clear vision for the future of Indian cricket as the factors that eventually won over the BCCI members.

A New Era for Indian Cricket

The eventual victory of the Pawar-led group on November 29, 2005, signaled the end of the old guard and the beginning of a modern era for the BCCI. With the leadership vacuum filled by those receptive to reform, the path was cleared for the commercialization of the sport. The IPL was not simply born in a vacuum; it was the direct outcome of this successful campaign to reshape the governance of Indian cricket.

By blending the fervor of Indian cricket fans with the business model of global sports franchises, Modi transitioned from a political tactician to the architect of a sporting revolution. Looking back, he views that day in Kolkata not just as a victory in a boardroom, but as the foundational moment for the modern, high-octane cricket ecosystem that fans enjoy today. The revolution had truly begun.