Lalit Modi takes to twitter to dedicate IPL 1 to Brendon McCullum

Former chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League Lalit Modi took to Twitter to dedicate the first edition of the IPL to Brendon McCullum.

He tweeted on Monday, saying, “I dedicated season 1 of IPL to Baz McCullum and the fans. Here is the closing of IPL 1. A dream realised.” Modi also embedded a video of his closing speech ahead of the final of the first season of the extravagant tournament.

The Indian Premier League was kicked off with a stellar display of batting by New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum. The opening game of the tournament was played between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challenges Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Put into bat, the Knight Riders opened the innings with former India skipper Sourav Ganguly and Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman Brendon McCullum. Few who had flocked to the stadium on the night of April 18 2008 knew that they would witness an exhibition of sheer power. The architect of one of the IPL’s most exciting matches would be none other than Brendon McCullum.

Although Ganguly was dismissed for 10, McCullum stayed at the crease and took the Bangalore bowlers apart. Baz was ruthless and spared no one. The best economy rate in the hosts’ bowling attack being 8.66 was a testimony to his sensational performance with the bat.

The Kiwi’s blistering innings witnessed the ball flying to all parts of the park. His knock included 10 boundaries and 13 massive sixes. He remained unbeaten on 158 off 73, with a fierce strike rate of 213.4. McCullum had single-handedly powered the KKR to a mammoth total of 222, as the next highest scorer for the team was Ricky Ponting with a run-a-ball 20.

McCullum had set the tone for the tournament. He had announced himself to the Indian Premier League in style. As for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, they were never in the game. They fell like a house of cards and were bowled out for 82, with only Praveen Kumar managing to get to double figures. The game ended up being a one-sided contest. The next morning, newspapers across India read “McCullum defeats Bangalore by 76 runs in IPL opener”.

Although, the Knight Riders fell into a slump for the remainder of the season, the cricketing fraternity will remember that insane innings from the New Zealander, as did Lalit Modi today. The way McCullum lit up the opening night of the Indian Premier League will be etched in the memories of cricket fans young and old.

The way McCullum lit up the opening night of the IPL will be etched in the memories of cricket fans young and old. 

I dedicated #season 1 @IPL to @Bazmccullum & the #FANS here is the closing of #ipl 1 a #dream #realised – https://t.co/ZbfhOO9GZY ???? ?

— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 3, 2017