The Day Lalit Modi Made A Risky Move That Transformed IPL Forever

When the Indian Premier League began in 2008 nobody actually had an idea of how massive it would turn out to be in the future. The first match was played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Lalit Modi, the then IPL chairman, felt that it all depended on that single game. He afterwards confessed in a podcast with Michael Clarke that he broke the rules of broadcasting simply to ensure the match got to as many viewers as possible. He took a dangerous but it helped significantly in making IPL the grand tournament we know today.

Lalit Modi told that Sony Network had acquired an exclusive broadcast rights deal for IPL but the issue was Sony's insufficient reach all over India at that point of time. He didn't want the thrill of the inaugural match to get transmitted far and wide if Sony alone telecasted it. That's why he made a risky decision. He overruled their monopoly rights and requested other broadcasters and news networks to broadcast the game live as well. He disclosed that Sony threatened to sue him for such action but he was not intimidated. He informed them that they were free to sue him later because his sole interest was to ensure people anywhere in the world were able to view that game. With his words he violated all the rules in the book that day.

The risk paid off since the first match between Kolkata and Bengaluru turned into a spectacular event. Brendon McCullum's fireworks of an innings illuminated the tournament and won the hearts of millions of cricket lovers. Lalit Modi understood that if the initial match got botched then the whole idea of IPL would fail even before it started. He confessed that all was riding on that one match. The success of the said match provided the tournament with the boost that it required and IPL soon became one of the largest sporting leagues in the world.

Lalit Modi has never been one to shy away from controversy. He has been both credited and blamed for the manner in which he conducted the IPL. The move to leak the controversial Slapgate video years later also attracted new flak. The video revealed Harbhajan Singh slapping S Sreesanth during the 2008 season which was a huge controversy at the time. The episode had been long buried but the leak of the clip again rekindled controversy. Harbhajan Singh strongly disapproved of the act of posting the clip after all these years. He said that it was wrong and looked like it was done with selfish intentions. According to him people had moved on from that ugly moment and bringing it back after almost two decades was unnecessary.

Despite controversies it cannot be denied that Lalit Modi’s actions in 2008 played a key role in the rise of IPL. His decision to defy exclusive contracts and open the signal to all broadcasters was a colossal risk. Any other administrator would not have ventured against giant television corporations for fear of legal repercussions. But he felt the audience of the first match was more important than anything else. His attitude was that a grand start was the only means by which one would generate excitement for the new league. He afterwards remarked that had the inaugural match failed, he would have been done for.

In retrospect it is not difficult to understand why he was willing to risk so much. The IPL was an entirely new concept then and people were not all sure if it would take off. Cricket had never witnessed a franchise based league of this magnitude in India. The stake was huge and sponsors were nervous. The success of the very first evening was needed to assure everyone that IPL had potential. Lalit Modi’s bold call to broadcast the game everywhere made sure that millions of fans tuned in. Once they experienced the thrill and energy of that match the momentum was unstoppable.

Over the years IPL has grown into a billion dollar sporting event. Players from all over the world dream of being part of it. The reach is global and every season attracts millions of viewers. When people discuss its origin they often remember that opening match where McCullum’s fireworks gave the league its perfect beginning. Behind the scenes Lalit Modi’s fearless move to break rules ensured that no cricket lover missed that historic night.

Everyone still argues today if Lalit Modi was justified in cutting across Sony's rights. Legally it was certainly dicey. Marketing wise it was a stroke of genius. The reality is somewhere in the middle. One thing for sure is that the choice enabled IPL to go to the farthest corners of India and even outside. The huge audience of that match solidified the league's future. Without it the competition might not have been able to survive.

To this day Lalit Modi is making news with his remarks and admissions. Some like him for his fearlessness while others consider him a rule breaker who feeds on controversies. But whatever opinion one may have it is impossible to ignore the fact that the foundation of IPL’s success was built on his daring choices. The opening game of 2008 proved to be a turning point for Indian cricket and Lalit Modi’s bold broadcast gamble was at the heart of it.