'UK is my home': Ex-IPL chief Lalit Modi announces British citizenship, calls it a new chapter

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) banned Modi for life in 2013 on charges of misconduct, indiscipline and financial irregularities.

Modi said he officially became a British citizen on September 15, 2026.

On November 14, Modi addressed the Oxford Union, where he spoke about his journey towards acquiring British citizenship and his longstanding association with the United Kingdom.

In a post on Instagram, Modi said: "Today, 14 November 2026, I had the honour of addressing the Oxford Union, where I publicly shared a very special and personal milestone."

He further declared: "I AM PROUD TO BE A BRITISH CITIZEN."

"On 15 September 2026, surrounded by family and friends, I celebrated my British citizenship at a ceremony that will always hold a special place in my heart. The United Kingdom has been my home for many years. It is a country I have come to admire and appreciate deeply — its people, institutions, traditions and values," the former cricket administrator said.

"Becoming British is a privilege and a responsibility that I embrace with pride, gratitude and a genuine sense of belonging," he added.

Modi also said that his life journey had been shaped by different cultures and experiences and that he looked forward to continuing to contribute positively to the country he proudly calls home.

He thanked his family, friends and everyone who had been part of his journey, as well as the Oxford Union for providing him with the opportunity to share the news.

Modi described acquiring British citizenship as the beginning of a new chapter in his life.

Modi, who first conceived the idea of an international-standard domestic cricket tournament, was the IPL's chairman and commissioner during its first three editions, held between 2008 and 2010.

He left India in 2010 amid investigations into alleged financial irregularities linked to the IPL and has been living in the United Kingdom since then.