NEW DELHI: Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has dropped a bombshell on Royal Challengers Bengaluru, stating that while the scenes outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after their historic IPL title win were unfortunate, the franchise's owners would be 'stupid' to sell it for anything less than two billion dollars, given the team's massive popularity.
RCB was acquired for $111.6 million ahead of the inaugural IPL season, making it the second most expensive franchise after Mumbai Indians. Over the years, the team's value surged significantly, driven largely by the star power of players like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers.
Modi said that the IPL has already created a massive fan following and frenzy among cricket lovers. He stressed that the passion for the tournament will only continue to expand across India and around the world.
"We (IPL) are only 18 years old. We have just started the fan following, we have just started the frenzy. It was unfortunate what happened with the stampede in Karnataka after RCB won. But you will see that passion grow across the country, across the world," Modi told Michael Clarke on the Beyond 23 Podcast. "If RCB does want to sell, they would be stupid to sell it for less than 2 billion dollars. If it is next year, then 2.5 billion, and if two years later, it would be 3 billion, and if it is four years later, then four billion dollars, take it in writing from me. It will grow by half a billion dollars a year," he added. Modi admitted that he still misses the IPL and continues to watch every match, stressing that while nothing in life is permanent, his role in creating the league will always remain a part of him. "I miss it. I think of it and nobody lets me forget it. I watch every match. In life, nothing is permanent. I am a part of it and that can never be taken away. In life, you have got to carry on and let others carry on," Modi said. "Too much jealousy was created. We have a crab mentality in India; they pull you down. My family was in danger, I was in danger," Modi added.
