Lalit Modi Critiques LSG Owner Sanjiv Goenka Over IPL's Success

Lalit Modi has publicly criticized Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka for minimizing his contributions to the IPL's success. Following record sales of franchises, Modi's fiery response highlights the ongoing tensions within the cricketing community. As IPL 2026 approaches, the league's growth and its key figures remain in the spotlight. This article delves into the details of the controversy and the upcoming season's schedule, promising insights into the future of the IPL.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 26, 2026, 12:09 IST

Modi's Response to Goenka's Remarks

Lalit Modi, the inaugural chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has sharply criticized Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka after Goenka minimized Modi's contributions to the league's impressive valuation growth. Recently, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) made headlines by being sold for over a billion dollars, marking them as two of the most valuable sports franchises globally. RCB was acquired by a consortium that includes Aditya Birla Group, Blackstone, Times of India Group, and Bolt Ventures for $1.78 billion, while the Royals were valued at $1.63 billion by a US-based consortium led by Kal Somani.

Goenka praised the IPL's rapid growth on social media, attributing it to the league's structure, particularly the media rights, and commended Jay Shah for his foresight. However, he notably omitted any reference to Lalit Modi, the architect behind the IPL. He tweeted, “@rajasthanroyals, acquired for roughly ₹270 crore in 2008, have just been sold for over ₹15,000 crore. @RCBTweets, acquired for roughly ₹485 crore, sold for over ₹16,600 crore. Two franchises, same week, each over ₹15,000 crore.” He added, “That value was built by the architecture of the IPL. The way broadcast and digital rights were structured. The governance that gave brands confidence to invest at premium levels. Much of this traces back to the vision of @JayShah.”

Lalit Modi's Outburst

Lalit Modi's Fiery Rant

Modi did not take Goenka's comments lightly, launching a fierce rebuttal and labeling him as a 'clown' lacking knowledge. He expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “Seriously, this guy really has a memory loss of who conceived the model. That's ok. He just lives in his own world. We all know that @DrSanjivGoenka is a clown (emoji) wish it was his brother @hvgoenka who owned the IPL franchise. He is a true cricket fan. Not this clown - who thinks his tweet will change history. Just proves he has zero knowledge. Just swelled up head.”

Upcoming IPL 2026 Season

IPL 2026 To Kick Off With Blockbuster Clash

In other news, the IPL 2026 season is set to commence with an exciting match between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Currently, the schedule for the first 20 matches has been released, with the rest of the fixtures expected to be announced shortly.