How Lalit Modi Turned Indian Cricket into a Global Brand

A new video feature released on 8 September 2025, titled “How Lalit Modi Turned Indian Cricket into a Global Brand,” spotlights the strategic choices that reframed the sport’s commercial identity. In an exclusive conversation, Jatin Paranjpe reflects on the ideas and execution that elevated Indian cricket from a domestic passion to a globally followed product, while weighing what the shift has meant for fans, players and administrators.

Jatin Paranjpe’s exclusive insights on a pivotal transformation

The video positions the rise of Indian cricket’s brand as a deliberate journey, shaped by sharper event design, cohesive storytelling and consistent audience focus. Paranjpe discusses how administrators aligned the sport with contemporary viewing habits, emphasising tighter formats, prime-time visibility and recognisable identities that viewers could rally around. He points to a blend of star power and community touchpoints—city affiliations, team colours, recurring rivalries—that created familiarity across seasons. The conversation also pauses on execution: packaging that caters to television and digital screens, and a matchday experience engineered to feel premium without abandoning the game’s core.

From domestic spectacle to a global conversation

According to the feature, the brand’s ascent hinged on making Indian cricket legible to international audiences while staying rooted in local fandom. Fast-paced contests, repeatable schedules and clear narratives gave the product a rhythm that viewers abroad could anticipate. The segment notes how diaspora communities amplified reach, social media accelerated storylines and highlights culture pulled casual viewers into the fold. Cross-border chatter, touring support and off-season content helped the conversation persist beyond the boundary ropes. In the telling, global attention did not arrive overnight; it accumulated as consistency, access and emotion converged.

The business architecture that scaled the game

The programme breaks down the commercial engine supporting the spectacle: multi-year media agreements, layered sponsorships, licensing and a maturing market for hospitality and merchandising. It underlines how data-led decisions—on scheduling, presentation and audience segmentation—kept the product responsive to changing tastes. Team-building frameworks and operational discipline feature as recurring themes, with emphasis on predictable calendars and broadcast-friendly windows. Technology partnerships, analytics and fan engagement tools are portrayed as enablers rather than ends in themselves. Throughout, the analysis stresses that while the packaging matters, credibility ultimately rests on the contest’s competitiveness.

Balancing ambition with governance and equity

The video also addresses the tensions that accompany rapid expansion: the need for robust governance, transparent processes and competitive balance. It flags calendar pressures and workload management as ongoing challenges in a crowded international ecosystem, urging clarity on roles and responsibilities across institutions. The segment considers how tradition and entertainment can coexist—heritage formats, domestic pathways and grassroots priorities alongside high-gloss events. Integrity safeguards, conflict management and clear communication with stakeholders are described as essential to sustaining trust, especially when commercial imperatives press for constant growth.

The road ahead for Indian cricket’s global brand

Looking forward, the feature suggests deepening the brand’s inclusivity and resilience—more regional language content, stronger community engagement, and consistent opportunities across men’s and women’s cricket. It points to smarter scheduling, greener operations and tech-enabled viewing as areas likely to shape the next phase. For the ecosystem, nurturing talent pipelines and widening access remain central to long-term legitimacy. As Paranjpe frames it, sustained success will depend on keeping the contest compelling while refining the experience around it—an evolving equilibrium between performance, presentation and purpose.