For a man who revolutionised cricket, it is surprising to see the number of detractors Lalit Modi has, especially in his own country. The conglomeration of hate articles that have cropped up in one year about Mr. Modi surely makes me wonder, what problem do we really have with him?
The BCCI was formed in 1928. How many cricket administrators can you remember? Let me rephrase, how many cricket administrators have done something that you are aware of other than the court cases for forgery, fraud, embezzlement and corruption?
Yes, Modi also has many of those to his name but at least he has done something besides that; and something colossal.
It cannot be denied that Lalit Modi is one of the smartest administrators in world sports. How many people can re-arrange a mega event like IPL in a different country within 48 hours after their own Government has squashed all their hopes.
Should the IPL have been postponed or cancelled? Debatable.
But it would be unfair to expect the IPL to rest on its heels and not try to rescue the tournament. It's easy for us to say it should not happen and elections take priority. But 1000 crore ride on it, and many lives. And simple economics suggests that a 1000-crore loss would trickle down to many who may not be directly related to the tournament and in times of recession that won't do anybody any favour.
Modi could easily sit back and enjoy the luxuries a BCCI office bearer is showered with. If IPL does not happen, his life is not going to end. And if money was his only motivation, I don't think he would have to get up from his barcalounger, the moolah would come on its own.
At least Modi works for his money. He works fast and earns faster. Is there something really wrong with it? Anybody who says they don't like money, either he/she is lying or something is seriously wrong.
Some say the IPL will only tire the Indian players more who are overworked anyway. But do you really see the Indians sitting at home and resting for a month without the BCCI coming up with another impromptu tour to Sri Lanka or an inconsequential tri-series in Dhaka.
Would you rather see Rajasthan Royals versus Delhi Daredevils or India versus Bangladesh in Dhaka? Again debatable.
But anybody who knows cricket will know IPL or for that matter Twenty20 cannot replace Test cricket or one-day cricket. It never can and it never will. Like most things and people in our lives, they have their own individual places.
Modi's brainchild IPL has been a revolution. It may not be a big success like it was last year but how many will deny the fact that it was an unprecedented spectacle. And it worked for Indian cricket. Unknown players rubbed shoulders with the best in the world.
Rookies like Swapnil Asnodkar opened with Graeme Smith, batted with Shane Watson, played under Shane Warne, faced Mohammad Asif, Glenn McGrath and Daniel Vettori in a space of three hours.
Would Yusuf Pathan be in the Indian team or for that matter Shane Watson in the Australian if it was not for the duo's exploits in last year's IPL?
The IPL had to have a positive impact on the domestic structure; most players in the league were Indians. After the tournament, most would have turned into better and smarter players.
Both Modi and IPL have flaws but neither of them are a curse to Indian cricket.
So, stop the Modi bashing and enjoy what he brought to us -the Indian Premier League and if you are still not convinced, you can always follow the general elections on another channel.
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