IPL 2024: Lalit Modi Shares His Verdict On Rumours Of Saudi Investing In IPL; Suggest Secondary-Tier League

Lalit Modi shared his verdict on the reports that suggested that Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was all in for this investment and believed that it would bring more ownership.

Recently various media reports suggested that Saudi Arabia crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s management is in talks with IPL. It was learned that they wanted to make the league a holding company and invest heavily in it. BCCI is yet to make an official statement on it but this news has been doing a lot of rounds.

Since its inception in 2008, IPL revolutionized Indian cricket. It has been extremely beneficial to the BCCI in terms of money. It’s stratospheric growth, developing into one of the world’s most lucrative annual sporting properties, pulling in millions of viewers each season.

Lalit Modi while talking about Saudi’s investment in IPL highlighted the downgoing popularity of ODIs and Tests. He suggested that BCCI should keep only four-day games and that too a day/night affair. Speaking to RevSportz, he explained:

“I see 50-over (ODIs) going completely. I see no relevance to it. It’s there for the sake of being there. There’s only relevance to the Test. A four-day Test, not even a five-day Test – a day/night Test because people don t have the luxury from morning to evening. But if it’s a day/night Test, they have time after offs to go and watch the game.”

IPL 2024: I would definitely be thinking of a second secondary-tier league – Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi, who has been banned by BCCI, further suggested that there can be a 20-team second-tier league. He shared his verdict on the same, saying that:

“And the 2020 format. I don’t have an inside view of the BCCI. They haven’t spoken to me in 15 years. I am not privy to that but if I was there, I would definitely be thinking of a second secondary-tier league with ownership coming in again, at the second level out there. Not at the valuation of a billion dollars but at the valuation of 50 million, 100 million collars which was the valuation of IPL in year one.

“There can be up to 20 teams, coming in from the secondary league and two teams are related up and two teams are relegated down will make it extremely competitive, extremely valuable to the players and make a new game altogether.”

The brand value of IPL over the years has increased rapidly is estimated brand value of the league currently is $8.4 billion. The rapid growth of the league has sort of put it on the same page as NBA, NFL, and NHL. If the reports of Saudi Investing In it, turn out to be true, it’ll shatter all the records.