The IPL was Lalit Modi's baby and he delivered, says former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah

Niranjan Shah, a prominent figure in the Indian cricket administration, openly discussed the upcoming naming of Rajkot Stadium in his honor. The conversation also touched on various topics, including insights related to Lalit Modi.

Reflecting on the Lalit Modi era, Niranjan Shah acknowledged Modi's instrumental role in shaping the BCCI. Shah highlighted the game-changing impact of launching the IPL, describing it as Modi's brainchild that surpassed expectations. He credited Lalit Modi for the success of the IPL and emphasized the democratic process and full support extended to him during its inception.

"We can’t overlook what Lalit did. I don’t want to get into what’s happening now, but his role in launching the IPL was a game-changer. I was the BCCI secretary when this idea was floated and we all fully backed Lalit. It was a democratic process and we gave him full freedom. The IPL was his baby and he delivered. At that time, we obviously didn’t know how big a success it would become. We know now. Credit goes to Lalit for it," he said, speaking exclusively to RevSportz, reflecting on the monumental shift brought about by the IPL.

I thank the members of the Saurashtra Cricket Association: Shah

He shared his reflection on the upcoming naming of the Rajkot stadium after him. Expressing gratitude to the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) for their steadfast support over four decades, Shah described the journey as a tale of achievement for the small unit that has grown into a prominent force in domestic cricket.

"I thank the members of Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) for supporting me in my endeavors for close to four decades. We were a small unit, and to have become a prominent one over the years for so many reasons is a tale of achievement. We are a Test venue and a major force in domestic cricket. Winning the Ranji Trophy is the biggest success. We created the infrastructure that made this possible. We have five first-class grounds, and some 20-30 practice pitches. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja are our players, who became India stars. I have fulfilled the aspirations of our SCA," he added.