By Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) is gearing up for its second season, which is scheduled to commence on January 26. Notably, Jammu’s own Deepak Dogra will be representing the Chennai Singams as their Icon Player. Having reached the semi-finals in the previous season, the Singams will kick off their journey on January 27 against Falcon Risers Hyderabad.
“The ISPL stands as the premier platform for tennis ball cricket,” said Dogra, a veteran left-handed all-rounder who has proudly represented Jammu & Kashmir in numerous domestic limited-overs tournaments. In addition to his playing career, Dogra runs a thriving coaching academy in Jammu and has been a prominent figure in the local cricket landscape for over 14 years.
“Tennis ball cricket is where many players, including myself, begin their journey. Even during my time representing J&K, I actively participated in tennis ball tournaments in Jammu,” he recounted. “I never envisioned it would evolve into a significant platform like the ISPL. This professional league is truly a dream realized for tennis ball cricket players.”
Starting with gully cricket, Dogra’s talent was quickly spotted by his father, who subsequently enrolled him in a formal coaching academy. “I may be 33, but age is merely a number. I still aspire to compete in leather ball tournaments and represent India. The ISPL could serve as my launching pad,” he remarked. Dogra was signed by the Chennai Singams for Rs 6 lakh, a portion of which he plans to allocate towards supporting underprivileged cricketers at his academy.
