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The Indian Premier League is the brain child of Lalit Modi. The multi-million-dollar, football-style, franchise-based domestic league, which Modi conceived and executed with spectacular success overs the years. The tournament, first held in 2008, consolidated India's position as cricket's economic powerhouse, and consequently, its premier agenda-setter. The craze for Twenty20 in India grew after Indian won the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007. And IPL just took it forward with coming together of Bollywood and business honchos and overseen in maverick style by flamboyant Lalit Modi. IPL was Lalit Modi and Lalit Modi was IPL. The maiden IPL title in 2008 was won by the under- rated Rajasthan Royals led by the great Aussie leg- spin legend Shane Warne. Chennai Super Kings scored an imposing 163 and the Royals chased down the target scoring 164 with 3 wickets remaining. Thus setting the stage for the mega event to rock in the years ahead.
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