Deepak Dogra of Jammu will play as the Chennai Singams’ Icon Player when the second season of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) begins on January 26. The Singams, last season’s semi-finalists, will play Falcon Risers Hyderabad on January 27 to start the season.
“The ISPL is the biggest platform for tennis ball cricket,” said Dogra, a seasoned left-handed all-rounder who has represented Jammu & Kashmir in several domestic limited-overs tournaments. Dogra has over 14 years of experience in the local cricket scene and has a prosperous coaching institution in Jammu.
“Tennis ball cricket is where most players start, including me. Even when I was representing J&K, I continued playing tennis ball tournaments in Jammu,” he shared. “I never imagined it would get such a massive platform like ISPL. This professional league is a dream come true for tennis ball players.”
Having started with gully cricket, Dogra’s talent was recognized early by his father, who enrolled him in a formal coaching academy. “I’m 33, but age is just a number. I still have dreams of playing in leather ball tournaments and representing India. ISPL could be my platform,” he added. He was acquired by the Chennai Singams for Rs 6 lakh, which he intends to use to support underprivileged cricketers at his academy.