Lalit Modi, the controversial founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), dropped a series of bombshells about his tumultuous tenure as the league's chairman. From accusations against former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials to anecdotes about Bollywood and death threats from underworld figures, Modi’s revelations provide a closer look into the drama behind the glitz of the IPL. (More Cricket News)

He managed the tournament for three years, up until 2010. In a recent podcast interview on Raj Shamani's YouTube channel, Modi discussed the IPL's business model and various controversies associated with it. Here are five key revelations from his interview:

1. Lalit Modi Accuses CSK, N Srinivasan of Match Fixing

Modi accused N Srinivasan, former president of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and a powerful figure in Indian cricket, of manipulation during player auctions and "indirect fixing." He alleged that in 2009, CSK pressured him to ensure no other team bid for English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff during the IPL auction.

“There was this time when CSK and its chief Srinivasan asked me to ensure no other team bids for Flintoff,” said Modi. “We rigged the auction to fulfil his demand.” Flintoff was ultimately signed by CSK for INR 7.4 crore but failed to make an impact.

Modi also accused Srinivasan of influencing umpiring decisions, specifically assigning Chennai-based umpires to matches involving CSK, which he termed "indirect fixing." These explosive claims have reignited debates about CSK’s credibility and legacy in IPL history.

2. Shah Rukh Khan’s First Choice Was Not KKR

Lalit Modi credited Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as a crucial figure in IPL’s success but revealed that the actor’s first choice was not Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

“Shah Rukh initially wanted Mumbai, but Mukesh Ambani had already secured that team. So, he eventually went with Kolkata,” Modi shared. He praised Khan’s contribution to making cricket a family-friendly entertainment spectacle, bringing women and children into stadiums, which helped expand the league’s audience base.

3. Shashi Tharoor Threatened Me Over Kochi IPL Team

Modi alleged that he was coerced into granting a 25% ownership stake in the Kochi IPL team to Sunanda Pushkar, the late wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, despite her making no financial contributions.

“When I questioned this, Tharoor threatened me,” Modi claimed. “He said, ‘Don’t ask about Sunanda Pushkar, or I’ll have you raided by the ED and jailed.’” Modi said he eventually signed the agreement under pressure from BCCI’s Shashank Manohar, who reportedly faced political pressure from 10 Janpath.”

4. Death Threats From Dawood Ibrahim

Modi revealed that he left India in 2010 due to death threats from notorious underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, not because of legal troubles.

“I got death threats from Dawood Ibrahim because he wanted to fix matches, and I had a zero-tolerance policy on fixing,” Modi stated. He recounted being warned by security officials that he was on a hit list and that his safety could only be guaranteed for a short period.

Modi insisted that he could return to India at any time, stating, “There’s not a single case in any court against me. If there is, produce it.”

5. Yuvraj Singh’s Six Sixes And The Birth Of IPL

Modi traced the genesis of IPL to Yuvraj Singh’s iconic six sixes in an over during the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup. He revealed that he had promised a Porsche to any player who achieved this feat, sparking excitement among cricketers.

'Nobody has ever hit 6 sixes in an over, nobody has taken 6 wickets. Anybody who does that, I will give you a Porshe out of my own pocket, nothing to do with the BCCI. Everyone laughed, saying you gave us an impossible task,” Modi said.

“I was very friendly with the players since I was a part of the BCCI. And then one fine day, Yuvraj Singh blasts 6 sixes. And those 6 sixes is the start, is the IPL reality. It lit fire on Indian television, news channels repeated it, and Yuvraj came running to me on the field asking ‘where is my Porshe?’ I said give me the bloody bat,” Lalit Modi concluded.