Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has dismissed claims of ‘black magic’ during a recent match, while suggesting such practices have occurred in the past.
NEW DELHI – Lalit Modi, the former chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has labeled a viral letter alleging the use of ‘black magic’ during the Chennai Super Kings-Sunrisers Hyderabad match as fake. He further claimed that similar practices have been observed in the past.
The controversy erupted following a video from the match held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, which depicted a fan performing a ‘lemon trick’ shortly before Chennai Super Kings batter Shivam Dube was about to face Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Sakib Hussain.
Shortly thereafter, an unverified complaint letter, purportedly from Chennai Super Kings, began circulating on social media.
“Seems fake this time. But one team owner did indulge in this type of practice,” Modi stated on his ‘X’ account on April 20. He recalled a past incident, saying, “I remember I posted some team owner doing this to the opposing team. By doing exactly this themselves in the opposing team dressing room. I even alerted the opposing team owners about this way back in the 2011 season when it happened, and I got an alert with concrete proof.”
Modi hinted at revealing more details about such activities, stating, “I will reveal all these types of activities conducted by whom in the movie/TV series as decided by my team to disclose.”
As of now, there has been no official confirmation from IPL authorities or either franchise regarding the authenticity of the letter or the alleged act of black magic.
In the match itself, Chennai Super Kings were chasing a target of 195 runs and made a strong start, racing to 76 runs during the power-play. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad mounted a disciplined bowling effort, ultimately securing a tense 10-run victory.
This incident has reignited discussions about the influence of superstitions and rituals in sports, particularly in the high-stakes environment of the IPL.
According to IANS, the debate surrounding the alleged black magic practices continues to capture the attention of fans and analysts alike.