'Opportunity is important, but to get an opportunity at the right time is even more important': Sachin Tendulkar on ISPL and young talent

The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) is working its way back towards its third edition, bigger and bolder than ever. India’s first tennis-ball T10 tournament will be played in Surat from January 9 to February 6, 2026, with eight teams in the fray — including new entrants Ahmedabad (owned by Ajay Devgn) and Delhi (owned by Salman Khan).


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The upcoming season also raises the stakes: the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will drive away a Porsche 911, underlining how far ISPL has come since its inception in 2024. At the launch event, Sachin Tendulkar, ISPL core committee member and cricketing legend, shared his excitement and advice for the millions of youngsters inspired by the league.



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‘The third season will be no different’
“The first two seasons of ISPL have been magnificent and the third one is going to be no different. We are all excited, a lot of preparations have already begun. When I heard Ashish [Shelar] say 18 lakh registrations were there, this year it is 43 lakhs. So, the number speaks for itself. There is so much enthusiasm, excitement all over the country.”

Tendulkar highlighted how the addition of two new teams has given the league a new dimension, engaging fans from different parts of India. “Two teams joining has given a new dimension to this tournament. Because I feel that means you are engaging more eyeballs from different parts of the country.”

Surat gets the spotlight
ISPL Season 3 will begin in Surat, and Tendulkar explained why the city was chosen. “I personally get excited because of this tournament. I was having a discussion with Suraj [Samat] some time ago and casually he said, next venue kya hona chahiye? I played cricket for India for 24 years. I received support from different parts of the country. So, now with ISPL, can we go to all those parts of the country? Everyone knows tennis-ball cricket. I started like that. The idea is to get to different parts of the country starting with Surat. So, the third season, we will be playing in Surat. It’s a beautiful stadium. I have been there some time ago. I like the environment. I like the excitement there. The size of the stadium was also perfect. I felt, let’s start with Surat and then we can go to different parts of the country. And Suraj had sent his team and then whatever they saw, they liked. So, we are looking forward to this.”

‘Opportunity at the right time is important’
Tendulkar believes ISPL is creating the same ecosystem of role models and inspiration that IPL did years ago. “I thought in the first two seasons, the quality of cricket played was tremendous. In fact, there was a significant difference in the second season. It got better. And we spoke about 43 lakh registrations. They [young talent] are looking up to all these [senior] players. It is exactly what happened to IPL many years ago. You get to share the dressing room with those senior players. Suddenly, that is happening with ISPL.

“And I see no difference there. Because to move forward in life, we need role models. We need someone to inspire. You want to emulate someone’s career. And that is happening in ISPL. So, I am super excited about this. 101 cities [for trials]. The way registrations are happening. And the tournament is getting more and more organized. With various trial matches being conducted in different parts of the country. Opportunity is important. But to get opportunity at the right time is even more important.”

On social media distractions
With young players in the spotlight, Tendulkar urged them to remain focused on cricket rather than the noise online. “When I started playing cricket, there was no social media. I focused on what I had to do. And media wrote after what I did. And there were occasions where they wrote before I went out to play as well. Sometimes there were good things, sometimes unpleasant things. But I kind of focused on what I felt was my priority. My priority was to go out there and play cricket. And that is exactly what I will advise all the youngsters.

“Social media is important. It is about how much you use. How do you use that, and to what extent you want to get engaged in that, and what is your priority in life. I am very clear in my head. My simple advice would be, stay focused on what you feel is important in life. If you are talking about ISPL, if you are talking about getting better at playing, stay focused on that. Whatever happens after that is a reaction to what you have done on the field. The more you complicate, the more complicated it is going to get. So, try and keep things simple.”

ISPL’s steady growth
From 18 lakh registrations in Season 1 to over 43 lakh in Season 3, ISPL has become one of India’s fastest-growing sports properties. Trials will be held in 101 cities, ensuring aspiring players from every corner of the country get a fair shot. And with stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Ashish Shelar, Minal Amol Kale, Suraj Samat, and celebrity team owners backing the league, ISPL is not just a tournament — it’s a movement that could unearth India’s next cricket superstar straight from the streets.

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