What is the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL)?

Cricket in India is more than just a sport. It is a way of life played in every gully, maidan, and street corner. The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) builds on this culture by transforming raw street cricket into a structured professional platform. Backed by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and supported by celebrity team owners, ISPL is redefining how tennis-ball cricket is perceived and celebrated. Launched in 2024, it is a T10 tennis-ball league that focuses on discovering talent from local communities, especially players who have developed their skills through everyday street matches rather than formal academies.

The idea for ISPL began with a grassroots talent hunt in Dharavi, Mumbai, in 2021, aimed at giving underrepresented players a genuine opportunity to play professional cricket. What started as a local initiative has grown into a nationwide league with massive appeal, attracting millions of viewers and strong stadium attendance. With Season 3 underway in 2026, ISPL continues to expand its reach and impact. At its core, the league bridges the gap between gully cricket and professional sport, turning everyday players into potential stars.

The Origin of ISPL: From Dharavi to a National Stage

The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) has its roots in a grassroots talent scouting initiative in Mumbai, particularly in areas like Dharavi, where cricket thrives despite limited infrastructure. In these neighbourhoods, players grow up playing tennis-ball cricket in narrow lanes and open spaces, developing sharp reflexes and natural game awareness. However, most of this talent has historically remained unnoticed due to the lack of access to formal training and professional platforms.

The early scouting efforts aimed to identify such hidden players and provide them with an opportunity to showcase their skills. As participation grew, it became clear that street cricket in India had an untapped talent pool on a massive scale. This led to the creation of ISPL as a structured, franchise-based league that could bring this raw talent into the spotlight.

The league gained momentum with the involvement of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and former Indian coach Ravi Shastri, along with several Bollywood celebrities who own teams. Its continued connection to iconic cricket hubs like Azad Maidan in Mumbai reflects its strong foundation in street cricket culture.

Today, ISPL serves as a bridge between grassroots players and professional opportunities, offering a pathway for talented individuals to move from local streets to a national stage.

Read More: Azad Maidan: The Soul of Mumbai Cricket

ISPL Format Explained

ISPL follows a T10 format, which is one of the key reasons for its popularity. With only 10 overs per innings, matches are short and easy to follow. The tournament features 8 franchises competing in a round-robin league stage, where each team plays multiple matches to earn points and secure a place in the top four.

Once the league stage concludes, the competition moves into the playoffs, which include Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final. This structure ensures that the top-performing teams get multiple chances to reach the final while keeping the competition competitive.

The T10 format means each team has a limited time to build an innings, so scoring rates are higher and teams tend to play more aggressively from the start. Matches are completed quickly, making the schedule tighter and easier to follow across both the league stage and playoffs.

Teams in the Indian Street Premier League

ISPL follows a franchise-based model similar to major cricket leagues, where each team represents a city and builds its own identity and fanbase. The 2026 season features eight city-based franchises, with a combined valuation of around ₹1,165 crore. Most teams are backed by Bollywood celebrities and business leaders, which has helped the league gain visibility and commercial appeal.

Here’s a closer look at the teams, along with their home cities and ownership:

1. Majhi Mumbai – Owned by Amitabh Bachchan
2. Chennai Singams – Owned by Suriya
3. Tiigers of Kolkata  – Owned by Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan
4. Srinagar Ke Veer – Owned by Akshay Kumar
5. Delhi Superheros  – Owned by Hrithik Roshan
6. Falcon Risers Hyderabad – Owned by Ram Charan
7. Ahmedabad Lions – Owned by business investors and corporate groups
8. Bengaluru Strikers  – Owned by Kichcha Sudeep

Each franchise represents a different region, helping ISPL connect with fans across the country. The presence of well-known owners adds credibility and attention, while the city-based structure strengthens local support and rivalries within the league.

Unique Rules That Make ISPL Different

ISPL is not just another cricket league. It introduces street-inspired rules that make matches more dynamic while staying true to how the game is played in local settings.

Tip-Top Toss

Instead of a coin toss, captains walk heel-to-toe toward each other. The player who steps on the opponent’s foot first wins the toss. This replaces chance with a simple physical contest and reflects how decisions are often made in street cricket.

Powerplay Rules

The first 2 overs are mandatory powerplay overs, with only 2 fielders allowed outside the circle. In addition, teams can choose one extra batting powerplay over between overs 3 and 9. This gives teams control over when they want to accelerate scoring rather than restricting it to the start.

Street Runs Rule

If a batter hits the ball completely out of the ground into the crowd, it counts as 9 runs instead of 6. This rewards clean hitting and can quickly change the momentum of a match, especially in a short format like T10.

The 50–50 Over

In this over, the batting team declares a target (minimum 16 runs) and selects the bowler. If they meet or exceed the target, they receive 150% of the runs scored. If not, only 50% of the runs are counted. This adds a clear risk-reward decision that can influence match outcomes.

Tape Ball Overs

Each innings includes two overs played with a tape ball, which behaves differently from a standard tennis ball. It generally travels faster and skids more, forcing batters to adjust quickly while giving bowlers an opportunity to vary pace and control.

Player Selection and Talent Hunt in ISPL

ISPL is designed as a talent identification platform, focusing on players who may not have access to formal cricket systems.

Squad Composition

Each franchise can have up to 18 players, with a requirement to include at least 2 under-19 players. Teams are typically built with a mix of players from different regions, ensuring wider representation and diversity in talent.

Nationwide Trials and Participation

The league conducts large-scale trials across multiple cities, attracting participation from players across urban and rural areas. With millions of registrations, ISPL has created one of the widest scouting networks in Indian cricket.

This structure allows players who have only played street or local cricket to enter a professional setup, making ISPL a direct pathway from informal play to organised competition.

Difference Between ISPL and IPL

ISPL is often compared to the IPL, but the two serve different roles within the cricket ecosystem. The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) follows a T10 format, with 10 overs per innings, making matches shorter and more fast-paced. In contrast, the Indian Premier League (IPL) uses the T20 format, which allows for longer games and more tactical depth.

Another key difference is the type of ball used. ISPL is played with a tennis ball, which affects bounce, pace, and shot-making, while the IPL uses a leather ball under standard international conditions. This changes how the game is approached by both batters and bowlers.

Player selection also sets the two leagues apart. ISPL focuses on grassroots talent, with players entering through open trials and local scouting. Many come from street cricket backgrounds without formal training. The IPL, on the other hand, features established domestic and international cricketers.

ISPL also includes innovative, street-inspired rules, while the IPL follows traditional cricket laws. Overall, the IPL represents elite professional cricket, whereas ISPL is focused on identifying and developing raw talent.

The Connection Between Gully Cricket and ISPL

The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) is closely connected to gully cricket, as it is built on the same playing style, conditions, and skill set that define street cricket in India. Gully cricket is typically played with a tennis ball in limited spaces, where players develop quick reflexes, improvisation, and aggressive shot-making. ISPL adopts this exact format, making it a natural extension of the game played across neighbourhoods.

One of the key links is in the rules and gameplay approach. Several ISPL rules, such as the Tip-Top Toss, 9-run “Street Runs,” and flexible powerplays, are inspired by informal street cricket practices. These elements maintain the unpredictability and fast pace that are common in gully matches.

The connection is also evident in player selection. ISPL conducts open trials across multiple cities, allowing players who have primarily played street cricket to enter a professional setup. This creates a direct pathway from local play to organised competition.

Overall, ISPL does not replace gully cricket. Instead, it formalises it by providing structure, visibility, and opportunities, while retaining the core characteristics of the game played in streets across India.

Conclusion

The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) represents a significant shift in how cricket talent is identified and developed in India. Building on the foundation of gully cricket, it brings structure and visibility to a format that millions already play. Its use of tennis-ball cricket, innovative rules, and open talent pathways makes the league both accessible and scalable. More importantly, ISPL creates opportunities for players outside traditional systems to compete at a professional level. As the league grows, it has the potential to strengthen grassroots cricket and expand the overall talent pool in the country.

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