The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), the country’s pioneering tennis-ball T10 cricket tournament, has kicked off player trials for its third season, marking its biggest expansion yet. The nationwide trials, which began on Sunday, will be held across 101 cities until November 5, culminating in the shortlisting of 450 players for the Season 3 Player Auction.

The ISPL, which has swiftly evolved into a mass-scale sporting and entertainment phenomenon, is going “bigger and bolder” this year. After two successful editions, the league has nearly doubled its trial locations from 55 in Season 2, reflecting its ambition to reach deeper into India’s cricketing grassroots.

Season 3, featuring eight teams, will be staged in Surat from January 9 to February 6, 2026. The league has also raised the stakes for individual excellence — the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season will drive home a brand-new Porsche 911, a first for a T10 format event in India.

Expanding Footprint, Wider Talent Pool

The ongoing trials stretch from major metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata to smaller towns such as Ambikapur, Rameswaram, Latur, Karnal, Ayodhya, Chandrapur, Ratnagiri, Satna, and Bilaspur, ensuring that aspiring cricketers from even remote areas get an opportunity to perform before selectors.

“Season 3 is a landmark chapter in ISPL’s journey,” said Suraj Samat, Core Committee Member and League Commissioner. “With trials in 101 cities and over 4.4 million registrations, we are witnessing an unprecedented surge of enthusiasm. Our goal is to give every talented player — from big cities or small towns — a fair platform to shine.”

Echoing this, Dipak Chauhan, President – Operations, said the expanded trial network underscored the league’s mission to democratize cricketing opportunities. “This wider reach allows us to identify and nurture raw talent from the grassroots. We have worked to make the trials transparent, accessible, and well-organized across every venue.”

Structured Selection and New Innovations

The trials follow a three-tier selection process:

• Registered players receive a Golden Ticket for city trials.
• Selected players advance with a Green Ticket to the Simulation Matches.
• The top 450 earn the Blue Ticket, securing their spot in the Season 3 Auction Pool.

In a first, ISPL has introduced Home Trials, where selectors travel to promising players’ hometowns, ensuring talent discovery is not constrained by geography or infrastructure. Squad sizes have also been expanded to 18 players per team, mandating two Under-19 cricketers, a move designed to promote youth participation.

Head of the Selection Committee Pravin Amre said, “Our evaluation framework ensures every player is assessed fairly. We are focused on identifying players who can not only make an impact in Season 3 but also grow into consistent performers.”

Committee co-head Jatin Paranjpe added, “Every trial is a chance to mentor and guide. Beyond talent assessment, we’re invested in shaping players’ mindset and discipline — the traits that define future champions.”

Star-Powered Expansion

ISPL continues to blend cricket with celebrity glamour. This season, two new franchises — New Delhi and Ahmedabad — join the lineup, owned by Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, respectively. They join an existing roster of high-profile team owners including Amitabh Bachchan (Majhi Mumbai), Saif Ali Khan & Kareena Kapoor Khan (Tiigers of Kolkata), Akshay Kumar (Srinagar Ke Veer), Suriya (Chennai Singams), Hrithik Roshan (Bengaluru Strikers) and Ram Charan (Falcon Risers Hyderabad).

Beyond cricket, ISPL has become a full-fledged sports entertainment spectacle. Past seasons featured live music performances, drone and laser shows, and celebrity-led events, positioning the tournament as a hybrid between cricket carnival and urban cultural festival.

With the 2025–26 season promising a larger player pool, stronger youth representation, and wider grassroots reach, ISPL appears poised to further redefine how India celebrates street cricket on a national scale.

Season 3 begins January 9 in Surat — and the road to the auction has just begun.

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