“We Won, And That Was The Start Of Modern Cricket” – Lalit Modi opens up on IPL’ – How the BCCI Power Struggle Paved the Way for the IPL: Lalit Modi Reflects

The Political Battlefield of 2005

The history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is often told through its star players and record-breaking crowds. However, the true story of its origin lies within the high-stakes, cutthroat world of cricket administration during the mid-2000s. Lalit Modi, the architect of the franchise-based league, recently opened up about the intense political maneuvering that allowed him to turn his vision into a multi-billion-dollar reality.

The catalyst for this transformation was the 2005 BCCI presidential election, a contest that pitted Sharad Pawar’s faction against the establishment led by Jagmohan Dalmia. According to Modi, the fight for control of the board was the essential precursor to the commercial revolution that would follow.

A High-Stakes Game of Strategy

Modi recalled that the path to victory was far from smooth. In an initial attempt to place Sharad Pawar in the president’s chair, the group suffered a narrow defeat by a single vote. The loss, Modi explained, was a result of internal betrayals and intense lobbying by the opposing faction. The political landscape was fraught with intrigue, involving everything from secret voting to the aggressive shifting of delegates.

“We convinced Sharad Pawar to fight for the post. We go for election, confident of winning and we lose by one vote. Because there’s a fight within our own people,” Modi shared during an appearance on Ridhima Pathak’s YouTube show. The loss only intensified the resolve of the Pawar camp, leading to a much more rigorous approach the following year.

The Supreme Court Intervention

To ensure fairness in the 2006 meeting in Kolkata—the stronghold of his rivals—Modi took an unprecedented step. He secured an ex-parte order from the Supreme Court, mandating that the election be supervised by two retired Supreme Court judges. This move caught his opposition completely off guard.

“I remember clearly it’s my birthday, November 29th, 2005. Calcutta, the elections. I am in many courts, fighting. We managed to get the Supreme Court to pass an order that the elections will be conducted under the aegis of two Supreme Court retired judges. Nobody knew the names,” Modi explained. The arrival of these judges effectively neutralized the influence of established power brokers, resulting in a dramatic confrontation that required police presence to maintain order.

The Birth of Modern Cricket

The tactics employed by both sides during this period were legendary, involving diverted flight plans and hotel room lockdowns for key delegates. Modi was candid about the aggressive nature of the campaign, noting that both sides were doing everything within their power to secure victory. Despite the presence of influential figures on the opposing side—including notable names like Arun Jaitley and N. Srinivasan—the Pawar faction eventually secured the win.

This victory on November 29th was more than just a change in leadership; it was the start of a new era. With the board under new management, the path was cleared for Modi to implement the franchise-based model that he had long envisioned. By blending the structure of major American sports leagues with the unparalleled popularity of Indian cricket and the allure of Bollywood, Modi successfully launched the IPL in 2008.

Looking back, Modi views this pivotal administrative battle as the moment the “revolution of modern cricket” began. The shift in power within the BCCI allowed for the commercialization and professionalization that turned the sport into the global powerhouse it is today, permanently altering the trajectory of international cricket.

Legacy and Impact

Today, the IPL stands as a testament to those turbulent years of administration. While the boardroom battles of 2005 may seem distant, they provided the foundation for the financial success and fan engagement that define cricket in the 21st century. By challenging the status quo and navigating the complex web of domestic cricket politics, Lalit Modi ensured that the sport would never be the same again.