New Delhi, March 4 Lalit Modi, founder of the Indian Premier League, praised International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah after the record-breaking viewership of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Sharing Jay Shah's announcement that the tournament had attracted over 500 million viewers in India, Modi lauded the achievement and highlighted India's influence in global cricket.
"That's the power that India brings to the world of cricket. You and your team are doing an amazing job despite countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan trying to control the game. I am sure that, as shown in this World Cup, cricket will continue to grow globally," Modi wrote on X.
Modi also predicted increasing pressure on the international calendar due to the rise of franchise leagues. "International-level games will continue to face pressure from domestic leagues like the IPL, CPL, Big Bash League, and the South African league. Fortunately, we don't have to worry about the 50-over format and other leagues that will eventually fade away," he wrote.
Turning his focus to cricket's future in the Olympics, Modi added, "However, the ICC is embarking on its most ambitious journey by taking the beloved sport, #cricket, to a global stage – the Olympics in Los Angeles will expose the game to a whole new audience and new generations of children who have not yet been exposed to our game. He also sparked debate with strong remarks about one-day cricket, questioning the format's relevance, and urged the ICC to abolish the 50-over format.
In perhaps his most striking suggestion, Modi said, "One thing the ICC should examine is whether there is any relevance left to the one-day format." In my view, this format can be eliminated, freeing up time for players who are already overstretched with the number of days they need to play in a year.
"With country duty/ICC tournaments being a must, and their own domestic tournaments that they need to participate in, and of course, not to forget the IPL, which is the only future tournament for players – the money they can make. No. 2. the viewership. No. 3. its competitiveness. The same has evolved in all major sports. Careful consideration to the FTP must address these issues," he concluded.