In a landmark move for tennis-ball cricket in India, the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) has announced a national competitive framework designed to strengthen grassroots development and create a structured pathway from local tournaments to national recognition.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The new system introduces an official League Affiliation Model and Zonal Panel Structure, decentralising governance across eight regions. This model ensures equal opportunities, systematic talent identification, and consistent evaluation across zones.ISPL Core Committee Member Sachin Tendulkar hailed the initiative, emphasising its transformative potential: “Identifying talent at the grassroots is the first step to building a strong future for the game. With ISPL’s new national framework, players from every corner of India now have a clear pathway to nurture their skills and showcase their talent on a bigger stage. This structure ensures every player gets a fair chance to be noticed and progress, turning their love for the game into real opportunities at the national level.“Under the framework, eight zonal panels — including West (Majhi Mumbai), North (Srinagar Ke Veer), East (Tiigers of Kolkata), and others — will govern cricketing activities in their respective regions. Franchise owners will serve as chairpersons of these panels, supported by scouting heads, tournament representatives, and operations teams.
- West (Majhi Mumbai): Maharashtra, Goa and Madhya Pradesh
- North (Srinagar Ke Veer): Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana
- East (Tiigers of Kolkata): West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur
- South-East (Chennai Singams): Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry
- South-Central (Falcon Risers Hyderabad): Telangana, inland Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
- South-West (Bangalore Strikers): Karnataka and Kerala
- North-West (Ahmedabad): Gujarat and Rajasthan
- Central-North (Delhi): Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand
ISPL Commissioner Suraj Samat underlined the league’s long-term vision: “The Indian Street Premier League’s remarkable growth is a testament to the immense passion for tennis-ball cricket across the nation. By implementing a rigorous and competitive framework, we are committed to identifying and nurturing emerging talent while strengthening the broader cricketing ecosystem.”The framework includes affiliation opportunities for local tournaments, a performance-based grading system for players, and live rankings of the top 1,000 cricketers on the ISPL app and website. From Season 4, players will only be able to enter the ecosystem through zonal panels, ensuring transparency and meritocracy.Launched in 2024, ISPL has rapidly emerged as a premier platform for tennis-ball cricketers. With player registrations already crossing 4.2 million for the upcoming season, the league has become a genuine pathway to professional cricket. Its credibility is highlighted by players like Abhishek Dalhor, who transitioned from ISPL to a net bowler role with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.Backed by Bollywood superstars and cricket icons, the ISPL continues to reshape grassroots cricket. With its new national competitive framework, the league aims to ensure that no talent in India goes unnoticed.
