Lalit Modi founder of Indian Premier League

Biography of Lalit Modi

Early Life

Lalit Modi founder of Indian Premier League was born on 29^th November 1963 in Delhi, India. He was the member of a rich business family. And was the elder son of his parents, one of the heirs of business industries of forty billion. He got admission in the Bishop Cotton School Shimla in 1971. After that he was enrolled into St Joseph College Nainital. But he couldn’t complete his studies there and in between he had to leave for America for higher studies.

In America firstly he got the degree of electrical engineering and then completed business administration from the Pace University in 1983 and Duke University in 1986, respectively. After completing his education he immediately joined his family business. He was very skillful, with entrepreneurial qualities. He was MD and president of Modi Enterprises. In 1992 he successfully managed to be an Executive of India’s cigarette company Godfrey Philips.

His success went on as time passed. In next year he entered into entertainment sector with Modi Entertainment Network (MEN) and made a joint venture between his business and Walt Disney. Some chosen programs of Walt Disney were to be broadcasted in India by his MEN. Then he also joined ESPN for the same purpose.

Interest in Cricket

From school life he was very much interested in sports, especially in cricket. He himself played in many games. As a creative businessman, he realized the popularity and importance of cricket in his country. He started showing interest in cricket. In 1999 he joined HP Cricket Association and in 2004 he joined Rajasthan Cricket Association and become its president.

Founder of Indian Premier League (IPL)

These efforts earned him a seat at BCCI. Next year he was chosen as Vice president of the board. His responsible working increased the revenue of the board seven times just in first three years of his tenure. In 2008 his golden year came in which his mastermind introduced the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the first time in India. It was successful due to his marketing abilities.

Indian Premier League (IPL)

Indian Premium League is a cricket tournament based on T20 format of the cricket. This concept was first seen in England cricket in which inter- county matches were held between England and Wales only. As a founder of Indian Premier League Modi dragged this concept into India on a wider range and became the first Indian to do so. He pulled over a big crowd in grounds through his marketing skills. IPL has completed six successful years and now seventh season is on air.

Present day Modi

Now-a-days his role is very much controversial in cricketing world. In 2010 he was suspended as chairman of IPL due to 22 charges. But he publically proved his innocence.

In 2012, he was successfully sued by Chris Cairns, New Zealand cricketer for making wrong statements of match fixing against him.

In 2013, BCCI’s three member committee, with charges of anomalies, accused him. But again he defended through media and his own website.

In 2014 no strong evidence found against him in breaking foreign exchange laws. Now he has been working actively to boost cricketing powers to take severe actions against match fixing in IPL 2014.