ISPL 2026: The Street Cricket Revolution

The third season of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) kicks off on January 9, 2026, promising the biggest edition yet. With expanded trials, a wider national presence, richer rewards, and a sharper competitive format, Season 3 is set to elevate street cricket from local lanes to a national spectacle. Running until February 6 at Surat’s Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, the season features eight franchises competing in 44 fast-paced T10 tennis-ball matches, highlighting ISPL’s evolution into a mainstream sporting phenomenon.

From Streets to Screens: ISPL’s Rise

Launched in 2024, ISPL was created to address a long-standing challenge in Indian cricket: abundant raw talent, but scarce opportunities. The league offers a televised platform for street-cricket players, bridging the gap between local tournaments and national recognition. Its grassroots-first vision remains central to the league’s identity.

Nationwide Trials and Player Selection

Season 3 expanded its footprint to 101 cities, nearly doubling last year’s reach, and attracted a record 4.4 million registrations. From this pool, 408 players entered the auction, with 144 ultimately earning contracts across eight franchises, blending seasoned performers with fresh talent.

Leadership and Governance

ISPL’s credibility is backed by a high-profile leadership team:

• Core Committee: Sachin Tendulkar, Ashish Shelar, Minal Amol Kale
• League Commissioner: Suraj Samat
• Selection Committee: Former cricketers Jatin Paranjpe and Pravin Amre
• Operations Head: Dipak Chauhan

This combination of cricket expertise and administrative experience has rapidly transformed ISPL into a scalable sporting ecosystem.

Season 3: Format Overview

• Dates: January 9 – February 6, 2026
• Venue: Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
• Matches: 44
• Teams: 8
• Players: 144 (18 per squad)
• Broadcast: TV – Star Sports Network | OTT – JioHotstar
• Tickets: Starting at ₹99 via BookMyShow

Prize Money and Player Incentives

ISPL’s rewards underline the league’s commitment to its players:

• Total Prize Pool: ₹5.92 crore
• Champions: ₹2 crore
• Runners-up: ₹1 crore
• Season MVP: Porsche 911 car
• Player of the Match: ₹50,000 per game (₹22 lakh total)
• Fan of the Match: ₹20,000 per game (₹8.8 lakh total)
• Final Awards: Best batter, bowler, and fielder – ₹2.5 lakh each

Teams and Squads

Season 3 continues ISPL’s blend of celebrity ownership and community-driven teams:

• Majhi Mumbai: Co-owners Amitabh Bachchan, Neeti Agarwal
• Srinagar Ke Veer: Owner Akshay Kumar
• Chennai Singams: Co-owners Suriya, Rajdip Gupta
• Tiigers of Kolkata: Co-owners Saif Ali Khan & Kareena Kapoor Khan
• Bengaluru Strikers: Co-owners Hritik Roshan, Divy & Sanjay Dangi
• Falcon Risers Hyderabad: Co-owners Ram Charan, Zayd Noaman
• Delhi Superheros: Owner Salman Khan
• Ahmedabad Lions: Co-owners Ajay Devgn, Izazahmad Khanusiya, Jahidmohmed Vijapur

Each franchise fielded 18-player squads through a mix of retention and auction, blending proven ISPL performers with emerging talent from trials.

Auction Highlights

The Season 3 auction reflected growing league confidence and strategic role allocation:

• Top Buys:
  • Vijay Pawle (Majhi Mumbai) – ₹32.50 lakh
  • Ketan Mhatre (Chennai Singams) – ₹26.40 lakh
  • Rajendra Singh (Bengaluru Strikers) – ₹26.10 lakh
  • Sanjay Kanojjiya (Ahmedabad Lions) – ₹24.55 lakh
  • Saif Ali (Tiigers of Kolkata) – ₹23.65 lakh
• Specialist Trends:
  • Batters: Ketan Mhatre, Sanjay Kanojjiya, Saif Ali
  • Bowlers: Rajendra Singh, Anurag Sarshar
  • All-rounders: Vijay Pawle, Saroj Paramanik

Teams prioritized power-hitters for short-boundary matches and bowlers adept in tennis-ball variations under lights.

Why Season 3 Matters

ISPL Season 3 marks a turning point for street cricket. The scale of participation, professionalism in operations, and financial opportunities signal a league moving from experiment to sustainable sporting ecosystem. For street cricketers, it’s a pathway from obscurity to national recognition; for fans, it promises fast, thrilling, and high-energy cricket.

ISPL 2026: Season 3 Fixtures Overview

The tournament kicks off with Majhi Mumbai vs Srinagar Ke Veer on January 9, 2026, and continues with multiple fixtures leading to Qualifier matches, Eliminator, and the Final on February 6, 2026. The schedule ensures non-stop tennis-ball T10 action, catering to fans nationwide.

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Sorit Chaudhary

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