KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla sides with Lalit Modi, backs IPL calendar shake-up

KKR co-owner Juhi Chawla has backed Lalit Modi's call for a January IPL start, questioning the tournament's April-May schedule due to extreme heat. Chawla feels that a shift to January will offer better conditions for everyone involved.Chawla sided with Modi's suggestion for early IPL start (Courtesy: PTI)Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Juhi Chawla has sided with Lalit Modi's suggestion to tweak the IPL schedule and start it in January. Chawla suggested that the IPL should move away from its March-May slot to allow the players to compete in better conditions.Modi, who was the mastermind behind the inception of the league, recently suggested that the BCCI should rethink the IPL schedule and consider a January start. Modi believes the IPL has grown into such a powerful sporting and commercial brand that it no longer needs a dedicated window in the international cricket calendar.He wants the tournament to prioritise sustainable growth, better playing conditions and greater value for broadcasters and Indian cricket.He also pointed to the extreme summer heat during the traditional April-May window, arguing that an earlier start could improve the experience for players and spectators while opening up better broadcasting opportunities. KKR CO-OWNER JUHI CHAWLA RESPONDSChawla responded to Modi's post on X and said that the IPL has earned the right to influence the cricket calendar. The KKR co-owner questioned the logic behind having the tournament being conducted in the summer heat in India.Chawla said that a January start will give the players and fans a better experience and will benefit everyone involved. "The IPL no longer needs to find its place in the cricket calendar. It has earned the right to influence it. So why keep playing the biggest cricket tournament on the planet in the harshest heat? And if the calendar is being reconsidered, why not January instead of April-May?""Better conditions. Better cricket. A better experience for everyone overall! The IPL has evolved. Perhaps its calendar should too now!" read the statement from Chawla on X. (Credit: Juhi Chawla X) While a major shift in the calendar hasn't been reported, BCCI are considering moving the IPL's start a bit earlier to tackle the weather conditions."This year, IPL started around March 29 [28], and it was over by May 31," Saikia told PTI. "Only thing which we are discussing is that during the fag end of the tournament after May 15... there is apprehension of having rainfall or pre-monsoon season starting.""On the other hand, there is hot weather which is not very conducive either for the players or for the crowds.""So therefore, there is a discussion going on in BCCI as well as in our IPL governing council regarding whether we can start the tournament a little bit earlier than the fag end of March."It remains to be seen if BCCI will go ahead with this change from next year.- Ends