The Indian Premier League (IPL) is an appealing union of cricket and entertainment, and all credit goes to the Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan’s unmatched charisma and vision, as his involvement has been beyond ownership.
India’s T20 franchise league has been hailed as a cricketing revolution because of its glamour, magic, fame, money, and success. Recently, IPL founder Lalit Modi recalled how Shah Rukh Khan’s association transformed the tournament into a global sensation.
Lalit Modi says Shah Rukh Khan was the number one pillar for the IPL
Lalit Modi said on Raj Shamani’s podcast: “Bollywood and cricket sell in this country. I have always been a part of the glamor. Shah Rukh Khan went to school with me; we are school friends. When I approached him for cricket, I didn’t know much about it myself, but I told him, ‘I just want you to be a part of it.’ He was the number one pillar of the IPL. Shah Rukh Khan bid for a team, even though he didn’t know anything about cricket.”
Interestingly, Modi revealed that Shah Rukh Khan’s initial dream was to own the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise, but destiny led him to acquire Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), as Mukesh Ambani bought the franchise, and the rest is history.
Well, the Bollywood megastar, alongside Juhi Chawla, acquired Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a reported INR 570 crore ahead of IPL 2008, and the franchise went on to become one of the IPL’s most successful franchises, winning three titles and gaining financial profitability.
Shah Rukh Khan’s first choice was Mumbai: Modi
Modi added, “His first choice was Mumbai, but Mukesh Ambani took that. Kolkata was his eventual pick. But Shah Rukh’s real contribution was in making cricket entertaining. He brought women and children into the stadiums, which was critical for the IPL’s success. That’s why we had music, cheerleaders, and a festival-like atmosphere—he turned it into an event for everyone.”
Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Lalit Modi revealed that Shah Rukh transformed cricket into a family affair and a complete entertainment package with his star power and charisma.
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He added that the KKR co-owner introduced vibrant stadium experiences that drew women, children, and families to the stadiums and turned IPL matches into grand festivals.
Lalit Modi credits Shah Rukh Khan’s star power for IPL’s cultural revolution
Modi also noted that Shah Rukh’s larger-than-life presence also attracted other Bollywood celebrities to join the IPL bandwagon, making it a festive celebration of sports and entertainment.
He also revealed that they initially had to hire celebrities, but after a couple of seasons, they came into the stadium on their thanks to SRK, and that’s how the IPL became a cultural movement.
He signed off by saying, “In year one, we had to beg or pay celebrities to come. By year two, they came on their own. After seeing Shah Rukh, everyone wanted in—Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, you name it. Shah Rukh’s presence turned the IPL into more than just cricket; it became a cultural movement.”
Notably, a total of 577 players will be up for grabs in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, with 367 Indian players and 210 overseas players on the list. Each IPL team is required to have a minimum of 18 players in their squad by the end of the mega auction in Jeddah.