India, June 3 -- The Indian Premier League has evolved into much more than just a cricket tournament. Besides being one of the richest sporting leagues in the world, it has become the benchmark for franchise-based competitions globally, inspiring several leagues across countries. It has also influenced how cricket boards identify and evaluate players for major tournaments.

Lalit Modi was the architect of the league. Former India cricketer Saba Karim recently revealed that Modi had first pitched the concept to the BCCI in the late 1990s, even before T20 cricket existed. The IPL was eventually launched in 2008 and concluded its 19th edition on May 31, with its valuation now soaring to unprecedented levels.

Speaking to Wisden for The Scoop...