Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar recently expressed his immense admiration for the escalating quality of play witnessed in the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL). He singled out three players who truly shone during its second season. ‘The standard of cricket in the first two seasons has been phenomenal,’ Tendulkar remarked, emphasizing, ‘There was a noticeable improvement, a significant step up, in the second season.’
The former India captain, also a pivotal member of the ISPL core committee, proudly announced Abhishek Kumar Dalhor, Sagar Ali, and Vijay Pawle as his top performers of the season. He commended their unwavering consistency and profound impact throughout the tournament.
Abhishek Kumar Dalhor’s journey, in particular, filled Tendulkar with optimism. In the Season 2 final against Srinagar Ke Veer, Abhishek Kumar delivered a crucial spell, taking 2 key wickets, helping Majhi Mumbai clinch the trophy. ‘Abhishek Dalhor truly stood out,’ Sachin stated. ‘What excites me most is that he received an invitation for net bowling with KKR in the IPL. This demonstrates how the ISPL is effectively carving out a path for players to transition into season-ball cricket, moving beyond the traditional tennis-ball format.’
Representing Majhi Mumbai, Dalhor was instrumental in their championship victory, bagging an impressive 24 wickets from just 12 matches at an average of 7.21. His outstanding bowling performances consistently turned games, earning him the coveted Best Bowler of the Tournament award.
Next, Tendulkar lauded Sagar Ali of Srinagar Ke Veer for his extraordinary batting consistency. Sagar Ali’s pivotal role helped Srinagar Ke Veer secure a runners-up finish in Season 2. ‘Sagar Ali was another player who truly made his mark,’ Tendulkar explained. ‘He scored runs in every single match he played last year. That kind of performance is almost unbelievable, especially considering the fast-paced, shorter format of the game.’
Leading his team to a strong second-place finish, Ali accumulated a phenomenal 493 runs in 13 innings, boasting an impressive average of 61.63. His exceptional contributions earned him the prestigious Man of the Series award.
Rounding out Tendulkar’s selections was Majhi Mumbai captain, Vijay Pawle, whose impactful all-round performances truly defined his leadership. Vijay Pawle captained Majhi Mumbai to the ISPL Season 2 championship, displaying leadership, skill, and composure under pressure. ‘Vijay, with his all-round brilliance, was the third player to impress me,’ Tendulkar observed. Pawle’s calm leadership and stellar skills under pressure were fundamental to Mumbai’s championship win, famously culminating in a decisive 22* off 9 balls in the final. Tendulkar emphasized, ‘The ISPL is clearly nurturing these kinds of role models, continuously unearthing talent that can excel far beyond the tennis-ball arena.’