India, June 6 -- Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru owner Vijay Mallya opened up about what inspired him to purchase an IPL franchise back in 2008, at a time when T20 cricket was only beginning to gain traction among fans. The decision to introduce a large-scale franchise league model seemed like a bold and risky venture for the BCCI in 2007. Yet, Lalit Modi, the board's vice-president and the league's inaugural chairman, possessed a vision and committed determination to transform it into something extraordinary.

Mallya was one of the few high-profile names of the country who got associated with the league from the inaugural edition itself. He bought the Bengaluru-based franchise for USD 111.6 million back in 2008 and named it Royal Chal...