Lalit Modi Reflects on the Early Days of T20 Cricket and Its Evolution

In a recent interview, Lalit Modi, former IPL chairperson, shared his experiences from the 2007 England tour, where he encouraged Indian cricketers to embrace the T20 format. Initially met with skepticism, Modi reflects on how the perception of T20 cricket has dramatically changed over the years. He discusses the challenges faced during the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup and highlights the pivotal moment when Yuvraj Singh's six sixes captured the world's attention. Discover how T20 cricket evolved from doubt to a celebrated format in the cricketing world.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2026, 08:43 IST

Lalit Modi's Insights on T20 Cricket's Beginnings

London [UK], June 4: Lalit Modi, the former chairperson of the Indian Premier League (IPL), shared his memories of personally encouraging Indian cricketers during the 2007 England tour to participate in the first ICC T20 World Cup. He noted that the new format faced skepticism from the players at that time.

The tour, which ran from July 19 to September 8, 2007, included a three-match Test series and a seven-match ODI series, just before the inaugural T20 World Cup commenced on September 11. While seasoned players like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly were part of the England tour, the T20 World Cup squad featured a younger lineup, led by MS Dhoni, including players like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, and Gautam Gambhir.

In an exclusive interview, Modi recounted how he approached players during the 2007 tour, urging them to embrace the T20 format. However, many players were hesitant, dismissing it as a 'stupid game' and expressing a desire to return home after a lengthy tour. Modi contrasted this reluctance with today's scenario, where opting out of a World Cup would likely lead to backlash from fans and officials.

“I spoke to every player in the dressing room during the 2007 tour. I pleaded with them to participate in the T20. They responded, ‘Lalit, are you joking? What is this stupid game? We don’t want to play it.’ They all echoed similar sentiments, wanting to be with their families after a long tour. Today, would anyone accept a player not participating in the World Cup? There would be an uproar,” he stated.

Modi also pointed out that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not send its strongest team to the 2007 T20 World Cup, opting instead for a younger squad under Dhoni's leadership. He emphasized that such a decision would be unimaginable today, given the significance of World Cup tournaments.

“The BCCI didn’t even send the main team to South Africa for the T20 World Cup. They sent a second-string team. Would anyone accept that today? If the Indian team were to go to any World Cup, would the public or the board accept a B team?” he questioned.

Initially, T20 cricket struggled for support in India, with low viewership making it less appealing to broadcasters and advertisers. Modi explained, “If there are no viewers, there are no advertising dollars. If no one is watching, there’s no money. Today, anything that attracts viewers will get funding from advertisers.”

He also mentioned that the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa faced viewership challenges until Yuvraj Singh's remarkable six sixes in an over captured significant attention. Modi actively promoted such performances to garner global support for T20 cricket when its potential was still doubted.

“The T20 World Cup had no ratings until Yuvraj hit those six sixes. I orchestrated that moment. I promised to promote anyone who achieved such feats. I was trying to create excitement when few believed in it. I traveled the world to convince people because I knew it would succeed,” he concluded.