Lalit Modi Predicts IPL's Growth and Digital Future

Lalit Modi, the founder of the IPL, forecasts that the league will double in size over the next three years, highlighting a significant shift towards digital platforms for cricket viewership. He discusses the evolution of audience preferences, the impact of OTT services, and the IPL's global appeal. Modi also addresses concerns about declining television viewership, attributing it to changing habits rather than a lack of interest. As the IPL continues to thrive, it remains a dominant topic of conversation worldwide, showcasing its influence and growth in the sports industry.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 4, 2026, 08:42 IST

Future of IPL: A Digital Shift

Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has voiced his optimism regarding the league's expansion, predicting it will double in size within the next three years. He emphasized that the future of cricket viewership is increasingly leaning towards digital platforms instead of traditional television.

Since its launch in 2008, the IPL has experienced phenomenal growth in viewership, commercial success, and international appeal, establishing itself as one of the most-watched sports leagues globally.

In an exclusive interview, Modi shared his insights on the league's future, stating, "Double in three years."

The inaugural IPL season captivated millions of viewers in India, and over the years, the league has broadened its audience through enhanced broadcasting, star-studded players, competitive franchises, and the rapid rise of digital streaming services.

The league's popularity has soared with the increasing use of smartphones and OTT platforms, allowing fans to enjoy matches on the go. Currently, the tournament garners hundreds of millions of viewers across both television and digital channels each season, solidifying its status as one of the most valuable cricket properties worldwide.

Addressing concerns about declining viewership, Modi attributed this trend to evolving audience preferences rather than a waning interest in the tournament. He noted that viewers are progressively migrating to OTT platforms.

"It’s going down on television. Yeah, Television is a dumb box. Everything is on your vertical. Everything is moving to OTT. And I always said it would. We are the fastest-growing OTT country. We have a billion people who are interested in cricket. They are watching it on the go," he remarked.

Modi underscored the importance of digital consumption, stating that current audience measurement systems fail to accurately reflect the viewership scale on OTT platforms and called for improved metrics.

"The data is much better. There is no rating information on OTT right now. That needs to come out. And you’re looking at somebody putting on a box and the signal going through it. And you don’t know whether somebody is watching. Now you get real data on who is watching when. And nobody’s going to watch the whole match. I’m globally travelling," he added.

He also mentioned that the IPL remains a hot topic of conversation during his travels worldwide.

When asked if people often discuss the IPL with him, Modi responded, "That’s all they talk about. Everybody. That’s all they talk about. They don’t talk about the Modi family business. They don’t talk about any other businesses of ours. And everybody just wants to talk about the IPL."

Meanwhile, the IPL continues to enhance its status as one of the most powerful sporting brands globally, with ongoing growth in fan engagement, sponsorship, and digital viewership.

In the IPL 2026 final held in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their title against Gujarat Titans, achieving back-to-back championships.

RCB chased down a challenging target of 156 runs, joining the ranks of five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) as clubs that have won consecutive IPL titles.