Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has issued a stark warning about the future of Test cricket, stating that traditional bilateral red-ball series are on the path to extinction unless radical commercial interventions are introduced. In an interview with ANI in London, the 62-year-old sports administrator argued that franchise-driven models are necessary to sustain Test cricket's heritage.
Modi's Blueprint for Cricket's Future
Modi called for a ruthless pruning of the international cricket calendar, specifically identifying One-Day Internationals (ODIs) as obsolete. "One-Day (ODI) should die. The test should survive. Test is a very important part," he insisted. He acknowledged that red-ball cricket cannot compete financially with short-form leagues but argued that sustainability lies in franchise corporate backing rather than government boards. "Unfortunately, (Test cricket) will die if it's not taken over by club cricket because of no viewership on a global level. So it will be a loss leader," he said.
Proposed Changes to Test Cricket
Modi reiterated his controversial proposal to allow IPL teams to own Test cricket teams, merging fan loyalty with the red-ball game. "Let the IPL teams own Test cricket teams. You got the youngsters, you got the loyalty factors... At least play one (exhibition) in a season between each other just to get their youngsters back into the game," he explained. He also suggested shifting five-day Tests to four-day, day-night matches to counter declining stadium attendance and align with modern media consumption habits.
Structural Vulnerabilities Exposed
Modi's warning comes at a time when the traditional cricket calendar faces unprecedented squeeze from franchise leagues and ICC events. Earlier this year, a 124-day gap between the fifth Ashes Test and the subsequent Pakistan-Bangladesh series highlighted the dominance of franchise cricket over prime broadcast windows. Modi proposed a strict premier country-vs-country format for the World Championship, played globally every year, while allowing IPL owners to field Test squads for limited windows to engage younger audiences.
"The only way Test cricket will work... Let the IPL teams own Test cricket teams. You got the youngsters, you got the loyalty factors. You play your country versus country, without doubt, that's premier. I'm saying you have it as a world championship that goes around the world every year... but also so that it doesn't disappear, you have exhibition matches starting off with it," Modi said. He emphasized that modern audiences lack the patience for five-day matches and that the game's "hook" must change to survive.
