Fireworks, a Senegalese-American singer that few in India had heard of, and even Shah Rukh Khan can only take you so far. Before the opening night of the IPL, on April 18, 2008, all talk of light-and-sound shows was mainly a distraction. Whether you were an Indian cricket administrator, a player or even a journalist at the venue, the predominant emotion was nervous anticipation.
What lay ahead? What would cricket’s brave new world look like? Frankly, no one, not even Lalit Modi, had any clue. It was one thing to borrow various elements from North American sport – notably the draft system that the IPL repackaged as an auction – and to give franchises outlandish names. Getting the concept to work was an entirely different matter.
India’s triumph at the inaugural World T20 just over six months earlier had enthused the country’s cricket fans. But that was India. Would fans really get behind teams called Chargers (wait, weren’t they in San Diego?), Royals (Kansas City, anyone?) and Indians (Cleveland says hello)? Would the devout followers of Indian cricket idols come through the turnstiles to support a concept where their heroes were ranged against each other?
While the IPL was modelled on overseas sports leagues, the BCCI was acutely conscious of local and fan sensibilities while planning the first player auction. The thought of someone like @sachin_rt going under the hammer was unthinkable.@BoriaMajumdar https://t.co/2K9j9Py725
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 18, 2025
Even before the tournament began, some of the sums paid at the auction had raised more than just eyebrows. Ishant Sharma, still a teenager at the time, had little in his catalogue other than a stunning spell to Ricky Ponting in Perth, but the Kolkata Knight Riders had paid $900,000 for him. Number-crunchers figured out that if Ishant bowled his full four-over spell in each of the 14 league games, he would be making Rupees 1,07,000 per delivery. In a country where India internationals had been paid a princely 250 Rupees per Test match less than half a century earlier, that was a mind-boggling figure.
The first match was billed as Rahul Dravid against Sourav Ganguly, whom he had succeeded as India captain. Neither was even a blip on the radar as Brendon McCullum put on a shot-making display that made the earlier fireworks look mundane. And with that, the IPL had truly arrived.
Had the IPL needed to piggy-back on India stars to capture the public imagination, it may never have become as big as it is now. But starting with that opening night, new stars were born, and new reputations forged. The cricket cosmos became bigger.
🚨Swapnil Asnodkar Exclusive
Shane Warne’s charismatic leadership, pink doll, Pakistan players and his firebrand opening – Swapnil Asnodkar, the ‘Goa Cannon’ and the star of the inaugural IPL season, rewinds to 2008 and Rajasthan Royals’ title triumph.@shamik100 @BoriaMajumdar… pic.twitter.com/PkF4sbLweA
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 18, 2025
“It’s been an amazing run for the IPL over the past 17 years,” Lalit Modi told RevSportz. “From an idea that I thought about in the mid-1990s to launching a city-based league, the IPL has captured the hearts of the Indian people and cricket lovers globally. It is the most recognised brand of India as a country, and has established itself as the foremost global sports and entertainment property.
“I am extremely proud of its achievement and the fact that, today, on its 18th birthday, it is a must-watch in everyone’s life. I wish it all the success and may it continue to delight one and all.”
Would the IPL have taken off as it did without the impetus provided by Yuvraj’s six sixes and India’s 2007 World T20 win? Would the broadcasters and advertisers have lapped up the concept? What we know is that the IPL changed everything.
✍️@BoriaMajumdarhttps://t.co/xDx1xogbX7
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 18, 2025