Ashish Shelar on ISPL: How the league is unlocking dreams for aspiring cricketers

The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s first tennis-ball T10 tournament, is gearing up for its third season with more teams, larger squads, and bigger rewards. The competition will take place in Surat from January 9 to February 6, 2026, featuring eight teams, including new sides Ahmedabad and Delhi.Announcing the new season, ISPL core committee member Ashish Shelar shared how the league has quickly grown into a powerful platform for budding players. “When we talk about talents, from 18 lakhs, we came to 43 lakhs. And now we have already done a national framework. So, we have gone much ahead where we are going to have a zonal selections tournament also. So, once that gets introduced, I believe that this will be the only tournament which will be the world’s biggest tournament ever in terms of registered players. And we are heading towards that,” Shelar said. He poured praise on the core committee, including Sachin Tendulkar, Suraj Samat, and Minal Amol Kale, along with the support of franchise owners, for helping create a system that identifies and promotes fresh talent from across the country. “They are also trying and getting the best of the pools, the talents from the pool rather. And they are giving the opportunity. I feel that we have a great way to go ahead,” Shelar added. Season 3 will also have structural changes, including trials in 101 cities beginning October 5, 2025. The squad size has been expanded to 18 players per team, with two under-19 players mandatory. The team purse has been raised to ₹1.5 crore, ensuring franchises have a greater possibility of building strong squads. Shelar also shared his vision of ISPL players making the leap to higher levels of the game. “I wish every player should get an opportunity to play for the country. Why just ISPL? Because there should be an opportunity for all kinds of talents. And the interesting point is that the ISPL is, as rightly stated, giving an opportunity to talent. That’s the basic thing. But I feel, now the journey has gone a step ahead. Now ISPL is going for a talent hunt also,” he said. He also spoke on how the new zonal framework will bring the search for players directly to their doorstep. “Somebody is coming to your doorstep, trying to find you and bringing you here. So, I think that will give the best of the talents to the venue also. And that is the way it should go. The cricket is life. Cricket is a religion. And the best cricket is our oxygen,” Shelar concluded.