Indian Premier League founder Lalit Modi has strongly dismissed claims that the IPL is witnessing a dip in buzz this season, asserting that such perceptions are driven by misinformation rather than reality.
Addressing the chatter around declining engagement, Modi said, “There’s also a lot of misinformation being spread, particularly by platforms like Dream11 and others, trying to create pressure by suggesting that things aren’t going well because of online factors. That’s absolute nonsense.”
He linked the narrative to recent regulatory actions, adding, “The reality is that betting companies are being blocked, and that’s impacting them.” According to Modi, this has led to attempts to shape public perception about the league’s performance.
Referring to recent controversies, he said, “If you look at recent incidents, like what happened with Sanjeev Goenka being targeted, it’s clear how narratives are being twisted.”
Despite not being present at stadiums, Modi maintained that there is no concrete evidence of declining interest. “As far as the on-ground aspect is concerned, I wouldn’t really know—I would have to be there. Online, it might not seem like there’s a lot of buzz, but I’m not sure what the situation is on the ground,” he said.
However, he stressed that viewership figures contradict the narrative of declining popularity. “I don’t think that’s entirely true, though, because the viewership numbers are very high. We saw the numbers from Jio last week, and the numbers next week should be just as strong. I don’t think there’s any issue with that.”
Modi concluded emphatically: “But the truth is, everything is going well.”
