Lalit Modi

And the BCCI is basically using the mafia tactics of like, hey, if you even think about going and playing there, you are banned for life from, at that point in time, what really mattered, which was the chance to play international cricket for India. Yep. So Lollett and Andrew Wildblood and IMG are like, okay, we got to accelerate this. We were planning to launch what becomes the IPL in 2009.

And the BCCI is basically using the mafia tactics of like, hey, if you even think about going and playing there, you are banned for life from, at that point in time, what really mattered, which was the chance to play international cricket for India. Yep. So Lollett and Andrew Wildblood and IMG are like, okay, we got to accelerate this. We were planning to launch what becomes the IPL in 2009.

We need to launch now, next season, April 2008.

We need to launch now, next season, April 2008.

Absolutely. It's also lucky for them that they do pull this forward in response to the competitive threat from the ICL, because there's another media marketing gift, which is that unexpectedly, India ends up winning the first T20 World Cup that summer.

Absolutely. It's also lucky for them that they do pull this forward in response to the competitive threat from the ICL, because there's another media marketing gift, which is that unexpectedly, India ends up winning the first T20 World Cup that summer.

So what happened was T20 was introduced by England in 2003. Yes. It takes a couple of years for other countries to catch on, start playing it. Like you said, Ben, you know, there was that Australia, New Zealand thing. 2007 is when the ICC finally starts to recognize, ah, maybe there's something to this. And this is the first T20 World Cup that they organized.

So what happened was T20 was introduced by England in 2003. Yes. It takes a couple of years for other countries to catch on, start playing it. Like you said, Ben, you know, there was that Australia, New Zealand thing. 2007 is when the ICC finally starts to recognize, ah, maybe there's something to this. And this is the first T20 World Cup that they organized.

So they've been doing the One Day International World Cup for years, all the way back to before 1983 when India won it. But 2007 is the first T20 version of this that they're putting on. Well, the sort of first team of the Indian national team, they'd already just played the one-day international version, so they were tired. The best players, you know, look, tired.

So they've been doing the One Day International World Cup for years, all the way back to before 1983 when India won it. But 2007 is the first T20 version of this that they're putting on. Well, the sort of first team of the Indian national team, they'd already just played the one-day international version, so they were tired. The best players, you know, look, tired.

So the young guys go, and the tournament is being held in South Africa. They go over there, not expected to win. The other countries are sending, you know, their first teams to this. Amazingly, the young guys end up winning the tournament in incredibly dramatic fashion.

So the young guys go, and the tournament is being held in South Africa. They go over there, not expected to win. The other countries are sending, you know, their first teams to this. Amazingly, the young guys end up winning the tournament in incredibly dramatic fashion.

Pakistan. Yes. So during the group play stage, the early stages of the tournament... The Indian team is playing the England team. England, home of cricket. Yes. Massive underdogs here. You've got the young Indian players. Lalit has come over, of course, to South Africa to watch the World Cup. He's working on the IPL accelerated launch in the meantime. He's like, okay, great.

Pakistan. Yes. So during the group play stage, the early stages of the tournament... The Indian team is playing the England team. England, home of cricket. Yes. Massive underdogs here. You've got the young Indian players. Lalit has come over, of course, to South Africa to watch the World Cup. He's working on the IPL accelerated launch in the meantime. He's like, okay, great.

We're playing in T20 World Cup. This is an opportunity. I want to create some exciting moments here. So he tells all the guys on the team, if any of you hit six sixes in an over. So, you know, an over like we talked about is six balls and T20, 20 overs.

We're playing in T20 World Cup. This is an opportunity. I want to create some exciting moments here. So he tells all the guys on the team, if any of you hit six sixes in an over. So, you know, an over like we talked about is six balls and T20, 20 overs.

Essentially, yes. Very, very, very difficult to do.

Essentially, yes. Very, very, very difficult to do.

The bowlers can either bounce the ball or throw it like a baseball pitch. They can do whatever they want. You don't know what they're going to do. And it might have spin, you know, like a baseball, you can throw a curveball. A curveball curves a little more than a fastball does, but can't move that much. When you spin the ball and then it hits the ground, it can move a lot.

The bowlers can either bounce the ball or throw it like a baseball pitch. They can do whatever they want. You don't know what they're going to do. And it might have spin, you know, like a baseball, you can throw a curveball. A curveball curves a little more than a fastball does, but can't move that much. When you spin the ball and then it hits the ground, it can move a lot.