A public dispute erupted between Lalit Modi and Sanjiv Goenka after Goenka praised IPL growth and credited Jay Shah. Modi, IPL’s founder, fired back on X, accusing Goenka of ignoring the league’s origins and calling him a “clown.” The exchange drew widespread attention, reviving debate over Modi’s role in creating the IPL’s franchise model.

A public spat has erupted on social media between Lalit Modi and Sanjiv Goenka after a recent post on X by the Lucknow Super Giants owner sparked a sharp response from the former Indian Premier League architect.

The controversy began after Goenka shared a post referencing the growth and success of the Indian Premier League and credited key figures, including Jay Shah, for helping the tournament reach its current stature. The post drew attention online and triggered a reaction from Modi, who has long claimed to be the original driving force behind the league’s franchise-based model.

Responding on X, Modi lashed out strongly at Goenka and accused him of ignoring the origins of the IPL structure. In his post, Modi wrote: “Seriously this guy really has a memory loss of who conceived the model. Thats ok. He just lives in his own world. We all know that Sanjiv Goenka is a clown. Wish it was his brother Harsh who owned the IPL franchise. He is a true cricket fan. Not this clown - who thinks his tweet will change history. Just proves he has zero knowledge. Just swelled up head Jai hind. IPL.”

The remarks quickly gained traction on social media, with fans and observers reacting to the blunt criticism. Modi, who played a central role in launching the IPL in 2008, has often spoken about the league’s original concept and its commercial model, which transformed franchise cricket globally.