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‘Baat toh waise sahi he keh raha hai ye’ - Fans react to Lalit Modi stating that IPL will be bigger than NFL sooner rather than later

Lalit Modi, the founder behind the Indian Premier League has claimed that the league will take over the NFL soon

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Rohit Kumar
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Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi (Source - Twitter)

Lalit Modi, the man behind the Indian Premier League, became visibly emotional as the Indian Cricket Board as well as the Indian Premier League celebrated the 1000th match of the cash rich league. The Indian Premier League, which Modi launched in 2008 with eight teams, has expanded in every manner, since.

Its worth has skyrocketed to over $10 billion, and the cost of media rights has increased by more than six times, standing at a staggering $6.2 billion (Rs 48,390 crore) at the moment. Additionally, both of the additional clubs that were added last year have a combined value of almost $2 billion. 

Modi then talks about the cash-rich league and predicts it’s going to take over the NFL soon. He said,

"It's all because of the fans and how they have embraced the league. It's only looking like it is growing from strength to strength. It won't be long before the IPL becomes the No. 1 league in any sport in the world. It is behind the NFL now, No. 2 currently. Going by the rate and speed of the IPL's growth, that day is not too far."

He then speaks about what he had said during the second edition of the Indian Premier League and claimed that IPL won’t be affected by anything.

"You remember? What I said in Year Two? The IPL is recession-proof. And it has turned out to be exactly that. The war is going on, recessions have come and gone and nothing has affected the league. You see the packed stadiums and the fans are watching it around the world," Modi stated. 

The IPL's wealth has helped thousands of cricket players become millionaires overnight. Modi recalled how Ishant Sharma, someone who was a newbie at the time of the auction, was sold for $950,000. There have been many other such stories, since. 

“In the first auction you saw Ishant Sharma. He got close to one million. That was life-changing. Hundreds of players across India have benefited and the IPL has been able to do this. Also, at the same time all the teams taking part seem to be making profits. That is amazing. That is the track record of the IPL.”

Fans react to Lalit Modi stating that IPL will be bigger than NFL sooner rather than later : -