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It was at this very venue before the final of the inaugural IPL that the then BCCI president, Sharad Pawar, had heralded the T20 league as a product that would revolutionise cricket. Standing next to him, a beaming Lalit Modi flashed an even bigger smile, convinced, probably, that the remark was a compliment directed at him.
Two years later, he stands isolated within the board and his association with the event considered his brainchild is under serious threat. On Sunday, as a tumultuous third season drew to a close, you couldn't tell it from his face, though. At his flamboyant best and film stars in tow he was sporting the same broad grin.
It seemed ironic, and cocky, that Modi boasted about the next edition of the IPL during a five-minute interview with Ravi Shastri the man tipped to replace him as IPL chairman. "We'll have 94 games. More games and more competition, it will be a bit longer...a week longer. There will be two new teams and a brand new auction next year, it will be a beginning from scratch," he said, before the final kicked-off.
With none of the BCCI officials around except vice-president Rajiv Shukla Modi seemed undeterred as he chatted away on his mobile phone in customary fashion while seemingly enjoying the closing ceremony.
He even walked out to toss the coin alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. During the game, Modi was seen applauding Kieron Pollard's lusty hitting, as the batsman briefly reignited Mumbai's hopes.
But it was at the post-match presentation amid the news of his suspension that Modi really hogged the limelight. Rubbishing the allegations of corruption and quoting from the Bhagwad Gita, Modi gave a passionate 'thank you' speech.
He didn't say he was going out, but it was evident the cricketing world had heard from him for the last time in his capacity as the IPL chairman.
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