Lalit Modi, founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has described the proliferation of state-level T20 leagues across India as a 'positive development for Indian cricket', while stressing that 'very close monitoring' by state cricket associations is essential to shield these competitions from corrupt influences. Modi shared his views on 1 September from New Delhi, as the state T20 circuit continues to expand rapidly in the IPL's wake.

State Leagues as a Talent Pathway

Modi acknowledged that the boom in state T20 competitions has opened new doors for a generation of cricketers who might otherwise have gone unnoticed. 'I think state leagues are a positive development for Indian cricket. This was bound to happen as the IPL ecosystem grew, and if properly structured, these leagues can become an excellent pathway for young and undiscovered talent to perform under pressure, get noticed and potentially graduate to the IPL and higher levels,' he said.

Several players have already leveraged these platforms to attract the attention of state associations and IPL franchises, reinforcing the argument that the domestic T20 ecosystem is functioning as an effective feeder system.

Integrity: Modi's Biggest Concern

Despite his optimism, Modi was candid about the risks that accompany rapid growth. 'However, with the rapid growth of these leagues comes a serious responsibility. They must be professionally executed and very closely monitored by the respective state associations, with strong independent governance. My biggest concern would always be integrity,' he said.

The 62-year-old IPL founder warned that smaller leagues are structurally more exposed to criminal approaches than established competitions. 'Smaller leagues can become particularly vulnerable to approaches from bookmakers, match-fixing, spot-fixing, player manipulation, conflicts of interest, questionable ownership or financial interests and other corrupt practices if adequate safeguards are not established from day one,' he cautioned.

Modi outlined a framework he believes every state league must adopt: robust anti-corruption protocols, player education, strict control over access to players and dressing rooms, proper scrutiny of owners and officials, transparent contracts and payments, independent audits, and active monitoring of suspicious betting patterns.

Governance of State Associations Under Scrutiny

Modi extended his critique beyond the leagues themselves to the state cricket bodies that oversee them, arguing that a league cannot be clean if its governing institution is not. He cited the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) as a specific example.

'UPCA is an example where, over the years, allegations and controversies concerning governance, transparency, conflicts and the influence exercised by powerful administrators have repeatedly been raised publicly. Rajiv Shukla has been a prominent figure associated with UPCA and Indian cricket administration. Rather than allowing such questions to linger, they should be independently examined and answered transparently,' he said.

Modi called on every state association to resist the concentration of power in a few hands. 'Do not allow cricket administration to become a private club controlled by a handful of individuals,' he said, stressing the need for regulatory oversight, conflict-of-interest disclosures, independent financial audits, and genuine accountability for administrators.

The IPL Blueprint and What Comes Next

Drawing on his own experience building the IPL, Modi argued that commercial success and institutional integrity must scale together. 'The IPL demonstrated the enormous value that can be created when opportunity, talent and commercialisation come together. The next generation of leagues must make sure that integrity grows just as quickly as the money does. Protecting the integrity of the game must come before everything else,' he said.

Modi also shared a post on Instagram reflecting on the IPL's enduring legacy: 'I built the IPL so it would never need me. Nearly two decades later, it keeps breaking records. That's not success. That's institution building,' he wrote. His broader message was clear: expansion without governance, he warned, 'can very quickly become a liability.' Whether state associations heed that warning will determine whether India's domestic T20 boom becomes a lasting structural asset or a corruption risk in waiting.