In most, if not all, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has become an emblem of India's aspiration to be a recognized world power.

A reservoir of pressurized energy waiting to bypass Indian cricket's myopic administrators, the nepotism, corruption, vested interests, personal fiefdoms and incompetence, suggested by something about IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.

As is also accepted by America and China, all that is needed is the right salesman, the right product and a belief in the power of the market.

Modi wants to make cricket more interesting and accessible.

In 2008 he introduced cheerleaders to the game, causing a storm among conservatives. This year, he forged a deal with Google and YouTube to show live IPL matches online.

He tells The Times with typical grandiloquence," I see the IPL becoming bigger than the NFL, the NBA, the English Premier League."

In 2004, annual income of Indian Cricket Board was probably less than 15 million dollars. This was before Modi entered into organization.

Thanks to Modi, now cricketers can earn at least money equal to rival football players.

Modi further says that the IPL is about accruing audiences, not money. Test cricket is not in danger, because the Indian cricket authorities still make more out of Tests and international one-day games than they do out of the new league. (With Inputs from Agencies)