With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy going on, the IPL has taken a backseat and the buzz will perhaps resume once the auction date comes closer, in and around December. However, the controversial founder of IPL – Lalit Modi – is never out of the news, and possible controversies.
Modi was recently in the news after the prime minister of Vanuatu ordered the cancellation of a passport issued by the island nation to the fugitive, who is wanted by India in a corruption case. But controversy is nothing new for Modi. Be it during his stint as the president of Rajasthan Cricket Association or as a founder of IPL, or when he fled India amid massive controversy. Modi has always been in the headlines. So how does Lalit Modi take controversy and negative headlines surrounding his name?
“When I started the IPL, I had no idea whether it would be a hit or flop. Sony, our Television partner, was just a normal channel with some presence in the northern part of India. Who knew Sony down south? The only way I could enter each household was through news, through headlines, through TV and Print,” Modi said in an exclusive chat with RevSportz. “I didn’t care whether there were television debates around the IPL trying to ruin cricket or front pagers making me a villain. I wanted it to be a talking point, negative or positive. The tournament had to be in the news.”
Modi was a visionary, no doubt about it. He may have his own way of dealing with things. Some may like it, some won’t. But the fact remains IPL has been a massive concept. Perhaps the most successful startup, a super hit ‘Made-in-India’ project. Following the blockbuster opening game between KKR and RCB in the very first season, a match that was blown away by Brendon McCullum’s 158 not-out, Modi dedicated the first season of IPL to the Kiwi star. “I straightaway dedicated the first season of IPL to McCullum. That helped the tournament take off like anything,” Modi said.
Before the conversation ended, Modi said, “Keep writing. Good or bad. It doesn’t matter. Any publicity is good publicity. That’s what made IPL what it is today. A tournament which everyone loves. A tournament like no other.”
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