VK Sanju
At least kids of the 90s will share the nostalgia of Kerala's brief tryst with the IPL through the Kochi Tuskers Kerala. A team that had cricket legends like Muttiah Muralitharan and VVS Laxman and Ravindra Jadeja and Kerala's own Sreesanth donning its colours.
But behind this short-lived dream lies a tale of intrigue, power struggles and bruised egos. The supposed villain of the piece was none other than Lalit Modi, the flamboyant founder and first chairman of the IPL. Allegedly miffed because the franchise did not land in the hands of his preferred group, Modi reportedly turned his ire on the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, orchestrating a series of events that led to its untimely demise.
Caught in the crossfire was none other than Shashi Tharoor, who had championed the team’s cause, only to find himself dragged into controversies that tarnished both the franchise and his reputation.
Lalit Modi, the self-styled czar of the IPL, might be miles away from India, but his shadow looms large over every IPL season, like a controversial footnote to the tournament's glitzy success. This year, it’s a podcast after the IPL mega auction that has propelled the corporate fugitive back into the headlines.
In his characteristic bravado, Modi boldly declared there is not a single case against him in India and that he can return home any time he wants to. A curious claim, considering his self-imposed exile to the greener pastures of another country, perhaps too green for anyone to believe there’s no storm brewing back home. If India were truly a free and open playground for him, why swap its vibrancy for a quieter, more discreet lifestyle abroad?
The plot thickens. Lalit Modi’s story takes a dramatic turn as he claims his decision to leave India wasn’t about dodging legal cases but dodging bullets from none other than underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. According to Modi, his refusal to associate with IPL betting earned him death threats from the elusive gangster. Modi reportedly sought protection from the Mumbai Police, only to be told that his safety couldn’t be guaranteed. And so, the "spiritual master of franchise cricket", as he likes to style himself, packed his bags and sought refuge in the UK, swapping cricket stadiums for a quieter life in exile.
Before the IPL’s glittering arrival, there was the Indian Cricket League (ICL) that stormed onto the cricketing stage in 2007, introducing India to the high-octane world of Twenty20 cricket. This precursor to the present IPL earned itself the infamous tag of a "rebel league", with the all-powerful BCCI refusing to recognize it and banning its players and associates outright.
For its brief two-season run, the ICL was a melting pot of talent. Indian players like Ambati Rayudu, Rohan Gavaskar and Stuart Binny found a platform, while international stalwarts like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Chris Cairns and Marvan Atapattu brought global flair. Backed by cricketing legends like Kiran More and Kapil Dev, the league seemed poised for greatness. But this defiance came at a steep cost. In a strategic masterstroke, the BCCI announced an “amnesty” for players banned for participating in the ICL. One by one, the players abandoned ship, leaving the league adrift and signaling its eventual demise.
If the ICL was the rebel spark, the IPL became the wildfire that transformed cricket forever. In what the BCCI dismissed as an ego issue with the ICL, Lalit Modi saw an untapped gold. Recognizing the massive commercial potential of a franchise-based T20 league, Modi took the ICL’s blueprint, polished it to perfection and pitched it under the official aegis of the BCCI. The rest is history of a billion-dollar spectacle that turned the BCCI into the wealthiest sporting body in the world.
When wealth and fame converge, they often find their embodiment in larger-than-life personalities, Lalit Modi being a shining example. The self-proclaimed architect of the IPL basked in its royal splendor for a fleeting three seasons, bringing not just cricket but also drama, power, and opulence to the forefront. Yet, even Modi’s towering influence and his close ties with Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Rajasthan’s formidable “Super CM”, couldn’t shield him when the tide turned.
Whispers grow loud of his role in entangling Sunanda Pushkar who had a stake in the Kochi Tuskers franchise, leading to the political fallout that saw Shashi Tharoor getting ousted from his ministerial position. But all the drama he orchestrated wasn’t enough to keep him glued to his IPL throne or his powerful seat in the BCCI.
Strong rumors suggest that Modi’s fall from grace was partly due to his alleged tussle with the Kochi Tuskers, possibly for the benefit of corporate giants Videocon and Adani. But the game he played so boldly was eventually abandoned, leaving him with an address in India as “absconder”. And then there’s the juicy speculation that former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj played a key role in Modi’s dramatic escape to the UK - a move that has left India chasing his trail ever since.
The IPL, now a $4 billion behemoth, may be cricket’s biggest cash cow, but its contribution to the growth of Indian cricket remains a matter of heated debate.
The league’s origins are rife with tales of intrigue, and Lalit Modi sits firmly at the centre of them all. Rajasthan Royals, the underdog franchise that clinched the inaugural IPL trophy, was largely owned by Modi’s brother-in-law Suresh Chellaram. Digital, mobile and internet rights conveniently landed in the lap of Modi’s son-in-law Gaurav Burman. Not to be left out, Gaurav’s brother Mohit held a stake in Kings XI Punjab, while Modi’s childhood chum Jay Mehta remains a co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders.
The auction system itself - now synonymous with IPL’s glitz - was shrouded in allegations of favouritism. Teams like Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders were snapped up for surprisingly modest sums in the league’s early days, raising eyebrows. Whispers of Modi leaking insider information to favoured bidders gained traction, casting a shadow over the entire process.
Lalit Modi’s downfall from the zenith of IPL power was as dramatic as his rise. After the 2010 IPL season, the BCCI suspended him amidst a flurry of serious allegations - misconduct, indiscipline and financial misappropriation. The allegations were enough to cast a long shadow over Modi's empire, and after an internal investigation, the BCCI did not just suspend him, but handed him a life ban.
Modi, however, remained defiant, claiming that he was the victim of political vendetta. What followed was even more explosive, an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate, which cast a further spotlight on Modi’s financial dealings and alleged money laundering. Modi is facing multiple serious cases, including charges for violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), with around 10 cases stacked against him. So, the big question remains: Will Modi ever return to India without the looming threat of prosecution?
