IPL founder Lalit Modi dismissed suggestions that The Hundred could evolve into a British version of the Indian Premier League and hit back at Kevin Pietersen’s comments on social media.
The latest exchange comes days after Modi predicted that The Hundred may struggle to survive in the long term, a remark that drew criticism from sections of the English cricketing fraternity. Pietersen disagreed with that assessment, saying the tournament would adapt rather than fade away.
“It will just be the British version of IPL. The format will change to T20,” Pietersen wrote on X while replying to a fan. Modi responded with a detailed rebuttal, saying the comparison with the IPL was misplaced. “Not in this life there will be no T20 tournament like IPL, my friend,” Modi said.
He went on to outline why he believes the UK lacks the ecosystem needed to sustain a league on the scale of the IPL. Modi pointed out that cricket is not the leading sport in England, which is dominated by football, followed by rugby, horse racing, tennis and darts. He added that the absence of a large and deeply engaged fan base coupled with a smaller population limits the commercial ceiling of any franchise tournament in the country.
Modi also cited the lack of Indian players in overseas leagues as a key factor. Indian cricketers do not participate in overseas T20 competitionswhich he says limits global appeal and commercial growth.
He further noted that the 18-county structure of English cricket would make it difficult to organize an entire T20 league at home and away. According to Modi, the calendar does not allow for an extended tournament of this magnitude, nor is there consistent crowd support to sustain it.
While The Hundred has attracted significant investment, including interest from IPL franchise owners in several teams, Modi said financial support alone will not bridge the gap.
He added that a realistic ceiling for the tournament would be comparable to other minor T20 leagues, suggesting that it could at best follow the model in South Africa. Modi also emphasized that bilateral cricket will remain the focal point of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s income.
The debate reflects differing views on the future of franchise cricket in England. Pietersen has backed The Hundred to evolve into a more conventional format, but Modi believes the scale and influence of the IPL cannot be replicated in the UK.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
19 Apr 2026 12:52 IST
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