DDCA Planning To Increase Number Of Teams In 2nd Edition Of Delhi Premier League
'We are thinking of increasing facilities in DPL… there are talks of increasing the teams as well (from six to eight)," Sharma told PTI Videos, highlighting DDCA's plan to expand the tournament.
'The new DPL season will begin in the first or second week of August," he added.
Sharma mentioned that DDCA was pleased that many players who participated in the DPL last year had gone on to play in the Indian Premier League this year.
'A total of 14 cricketers (who competed in) DPL played in the IPL… players like Digvesh Rathi, Ayush Badoni and Priyansh Arya, among others," he said, adding that there were plans to give a boost to women's cricket as well.
DDCA recently launched a women's T20 tournament in which 41 affiliated clubs are participating. Sharma said DDCA plans to add two more women's teams by next year.
'Our apex council is giving special focus to women's cricket. If any (affiliated) club fields its women's team, it will be given Rs one lakh as subsidy and if they build their ground, then they will be give Rs 2.5 lakhs."
Sharma noted that the Arun Jaitley Stadium had undergone significant renovations and changes, resulting in improved facilities for players and spectators.
'We got a bad name sometimes when lights went off or the pitch wasn't in good condition. So, we renovated the stadium to provide better facilities. It was a proud moment for our apex council when we were given the 'Best Pitch Award in IPL', which is a big achievement," he added.
With the BCCI shifting the venue for the three-match women's ODI series between India and Australia in September-October from Chennai to Delhi and Mullanpur, Sharma said DDCA was committed to providing the best facilities for the players.
The matches were moved to Delhi and Mullanpur as the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is undergoing a revamp of the outfield and pitches.
'We will provide the best facilities (for the women's ODI here). We will have a lot of facilities to generate spectator interest. We have a good curator staff and everything is ready for Australia series," said Sharma.
The DDCA is also planning to send players for umpiring courses to further nurture cricketing talent.
'We want to send a few players from DDCA for umpiring courses." he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
22 minutes ago
- India Gazette
"Great opportunity for Washington Sundar": Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan on India's England tour
By Diptayan Hazra Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 15 (ANI): With Team India gearing up for the highly anticipated Test series against England, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan has weighed in with his insights on what lies ahead. Vidyut touched upon the void left by some of India's legends, the emergence of new talent, and the importance of adapting to England's ever-changing conditions. The retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin has opened the door for other spin all-rounders to step up, and Vidyut is confident that Washington Sundar could be the one to watch. 'Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, it's been very tough on Washi (Washington Sundar) because he has just never been a permanent figure in the squad. However well he does,' he told ANI. Vidyut pointed out that despite Sundar delivering under pressure in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or international formats, he's yet to become a consistent part of India's plans. 'You have seen him in the IPL in Gujarat (Gujarat Titans). He comes back to No. 4 in one game and the team is in trouble. He gets the job done. He doesn't play again. Again, he comes back. He plays. I remember a one-day series in New Zealand, the ball is doing a lot, he comes in No. 4, plays beautifully,' he added. 'Australia, Gabba, he has been a brilliant performer but it's just very unfortunate that he has not been a permanent fixture. I have a lot of respect for him because it's not easy as a cricketer, you don't get an opportunity when you need to. When you get an opportunity, you really stand up,' he noted. Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan called Sundar a 'fantastic' batter and predicted that he will deliever great performances in the England series. 'So, I think this will be a great series for him and mind you, I have spent a lot of time with Washi in the junior level, Tamil Nadu's under-19s, Tamil Nadu's A-teams. He is a fantastic batter. You know, in these kind of conditions, he will be a top-class player. Great No. 7, No. 8 to have,' Vidyut said. 'He can get that 40-50 runs for you at will and of course, his bowling is very, very good. He is a smart fielder as well. So, he will definitely add a lot of value to the Indian side,' he remarked. India will miss not just Ashwin's spin wizardry, but also his all-round value, especially in crunch situations. 'Yeah, definitely, we are going to miss Ashwin a lot. Not only as a bowler, but as a batter. In SENA countries, there have been a lot of occasions where India has been 140 for 5-6, and people like Ashwin, Jadeja, and Pant have really stepped up and taken the score to 280-300. Which actually made a big difference in the end,' he said. Still, Vidyut believes Ravindra Jadeja will shoulder much of the responsibility in Ashwin's absence, 'His spinning buddy and very good friend, Ravindra Jadeja, is still there. He has a lot of value to add as a batter and as a bowler. People like him have to step up because three legends have retired. It's going to be a challenge, but a great opportunity for someone to have a path-breaking series.' Speaking on the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Vidyut acknowledged the significance of the void but looked at the upside, 'It is going to be a challenge. Huge shoes to fill, especially in Test cricket. We have seen what Virat Kohli has done in England, both as a player and a captain. Rohit Sharma, the way he transitioned into a Test opener, was amazing.' 'Not only as batters, but as leaders on the field, their presence will be missed but it's a great opportunity for young batters to step up. We have talents like Jaiswal (Yashasvi Jaiswal), who has been unbelievable in Test cricket, Sai Sudharshan, Karun Nair, who have done very well in county cricket, and we have Rishabh Pant, who has batted beautifully in England,' he said. 'So, I don't think it's very worrisome. We have the players to really step up but are we going to miss Virat and Rohit? Definitely, no doubt about it,' he added. 'It is going to be a challenge but like I said, we have played in England before. Lot of these guys travel there with the A-teams and they go for lot of academy tours,' Vidyut noted while addinng that 'So, they know what to expect there. So, I look forward to it. It's going to be a challenge but we have the players to get the job done'. Vidyut emphasized the importance of adapting to the ever-changing English conditions. 'The biggest lesson is it's got to be condition-centric. Like you saw, the first two days were completely owned by the bowlers and the third day, the sun was out. I think from second day evening and the third day, you know, things can change in England very, very fast (On World Test Championship Final). So, I think that's going to be the biggest lesson for India. There will be time for two-and-a-half hours you won't get even one boundary but there will be a time when the sun comes out, the pitch dries up, you will get a flurry of boundaries and again, in another one hour, you know, the conditions are going to change,' he noted. 'So, it's going to be how we are going to, you know, keep assessing the conditions. As a batter especially, you know, because like I said, it's not going to be like Australia, South Africa. After you play for, you know, maybe half an hour, you know the bounce, you know the pace. It's going to be even throughout. England is not going to be that way. There's going to be a lot of lateral and sideward movement and because of the conditions, it will change a lot. So, I think that will be the biggest, you know, learning for India,' he added. 'Like things can change very quickly. Then they need to be a little smart about how they go about things in that aspect,' the former CSK cricketer said. Apart from weather and conditions, Vidyut warned about external pressures, especially from English crowds. 'The crowds can put a lot of pressure. England fans can get under your skin. It's how the team handles the pressure, the chatter, and the noise around, especially with a new captain and a young side,' he said. 'One bad innings, and people might start judging. That's where support staff becomes important to keep the players mentally strong,' he noted. On England's aggressive 'Bazball' strategy, Vidyut offered his perspective, 'It's very difficult to play that way in India, as we saw during England's last tour. The pitches slow down, the ball softens, and hitting through the line becomes difficult.' 'It might work in England under batting-friendly conditions, but it also exposes them. They can get a 120-run partnership in 80 balls but also lose 3-4 wickets in no time,' he added. 'So, that's something India should look at because Bazball, I think it's quite hyped. It's also a media name and England will also look to maybe see how they can do things a little differently because it's not worked really well for them over a period of time. It is exciting. It's great to watch. It's good for the crowd but have they got the desired results over a period of time? I really don't know. I don't think so. I think India can really make use of that. I think Indian bowlers, if they are smart... We have a lot of variety in this bowling lineup. If they are smart, I think they can really put a lot of pressure in England if they continue playing with the same method,' he remarked. Vidyut reserved special praise for Tamil Nadu's Sai Sudharsan, 'I am really looking forward to Sai Sudharsan. I think on a personal level because he hails from Tamil Nadu. I have spent some time with him. I have spoken to him. He is very hungry to do well. He has a great temperament and he has the game to really flourish in England.' 'He plays close to the body. He understands conditions well. He has played there before in county cricket. So, I really look forward to watching him bat at the highest level. Till now, it's been a great journey for him. In the white ball format, he has showed glimpses of what he is capable of,' he noted. 'So, if he can get the job done in England, I will be very happy for the kid because he is one of the most hard-working and humble kids I have seen. So, I look forward to him,' he said. Vidyut further mentioned that he is a big fan of Joe Root while calling his batting style a 'real poetry in motion'. 'I am a big fan of Joe Root. My son is a big fan of Joe Root. So, I really want to see Joe Root go about his business because when he gets going, it's absolute class. Real poetry in motion. So, I enjoy watching Joe Root bat,' Vidyut noted. 'When England is in trouble, he comes. The way he goes about things. The way he reads the situation is an absolute pleasure to watch,' he added. Tune into Sony Sports Network from June 20 for the India-England Test Series. (ANI)
India Gazette
22 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Bengaluru stampede: Leader of Opposition R Ashok demands emergency assembly session
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 15 (ANI): Karnataka Leader of Opposition (LoP) R Ashok has urged the state government to convene an emergency session of the legislature to discuss the stampede tragedy at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ashok highlighted that the incident has raised serious questions about public safety, crowd control, and the organisation of sports and other events. The tragedy has caused anxiety and concern among the public and alleged that lapses in administration, the government's actions post-incident, and attempts to shield influential individuals have led to widespread doubts, said a statement. Ashok claimed that three separate investigations are being conducted to conceal the truth, and helpless officials are being scapegoated, as per public discussions. He emphasised the need for a comprehensive discussion on measures to prevent such incidents in the future, proposing a three-day emergency session. The session should address a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the stampede, strengthening crowd control and safety measures at public events, ensuring proper treatment for the injured, providing compensation to affected families, and outlining the state government's plans to avoid such incidents in the future. Ashok stated that the emergency session would demonstrate the state government's commitment to the public and help implement appropriate measures based on lessons learned from the tragedy. He also urged the government to disclose the causes of the incident to the public and take legal action against those responsible. Eleven people died and more than 30 were injured in a stampede outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy stadium as a huge crowd of nearly 3 lakh people had gathered to witness the victory celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru for winning the Indian Premier League (IPL). Following the incident, the Karnataka government on June 5 suspended top police officials at the Cubbon Park Police Station and formed a one-man commission under a retired High Court Judge to probe the incident. (ANI)
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
No Nicholas Pooran, no problem: West Indies slam 256 runs in T20I vs Ireland
Star West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran might have called time on his international career, but that had no bearing on the team's T20I match against Ireland on June 15. On the back of Evin Lewis and Shai Hope's incredible opening partnership, the Windies hit their second-highest T20I total at the Bready Cricket Ground on Windies scored a total of 256 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, just two runs short of their highest total in T20Is - 258/5, which came against South Africa in 2023. Lewis and Hope added 122 runs in just 10.3 overs before Hope was dismissed by Barry McCarthy against the run of play. The Windies lost a bit of momentum after that but ended up finishing strong, hitting 60 runs in the last three overs. Keacy Carty, who had started slow, lit up at the end and had tremendous help from Romario Shepherd, who finished with 19* off just 6 bowlers were taken to the cleaners. Except for Matthew Humphreys, who finished with an incredible 2/16, the figures of the rest did not make for good reading. Liam McCarthy, on debut, got hammered for 0/81 in his four overs — the second-worst figures in the history of T20Is. Evin Lewis was the star of the show, hitting 91 off just 44 balls. He was dismissed on the second ball of the 13th over, falling in the nervous nineties. Despite falling 9 short of a deserved century, Lewis was able to set up the team for their huge was the third and final T20I of the series. The previous two matches were called off without a ball being bowled due to poor Pooran RetiresWest Indies batter Nicholas Pooran shocked the cricket world on Tuesday, June 10, by announcing his retirement from international cricket at the age of 29. Pooran took to social media to share the news with his fans, describing it as a 'very difficult' decision. He bows out of international cricket having scored over 4,000 runs across 61 T20 Internationals and 106 One Day unexpected announcement came just days after he requested to be rested from the white-ball series in England, following his commitments with the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL).Must Watch
