India PR Distribution
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 16: The Indian Softball Cricket League (ISCL) on Saturday outlined an bold roadmap for its subsequent section of progress because it seems to construct a structured {and professional} nationwide platform for softball and tennis-ball cricketers throughout India.
At a press convention held on the IAS Association in Bengaluru, ISCL Founder and President Dr. Gangadhar Raju, together with the league’s management, highlighted the progress made since its inception and unveiled plans to strengthen its franchise, participant, model and business ecosystem forward of Season 2.
Former India cricketers Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh are related to ISCL as Brand Ambassadors, including vital cricketing stature to a league whose central goal is to establish and supply alternatives to grassroots expertise from city, rural and distant areas of the nation.
ISCL AT A GLANCE
* Â Â Â Â Format: Franchise-based softball/tennis-ball cricket
* Â Â Â Â Franchises: 32 groups
* Â Â Â Â Focus: Grassroots expertise growth
* Â Â Â Â Geographical Reach: Pan-India
* Â Â Â Â Founder & President: Dr. Gangadhar Raju
* Â Â Â Â Brand Ambassadors: Suresh Raina & Harbhajan Singh
* Â Â Â Â Governing Organisation: Indian Softball Cricket Foundation (ISCF)
* Â Â Â Â Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Speaking about ISCL’s potential to create alternatives for grassroots cricketers, former India off-spinner and ISCL Brand Ambassador Harbhajan Singh mentioned: “There is tremendous cricketing talent across India, particularly at the grassroots level, but not every talented player gets the platform or exposure needed to showcase their ability. ISCL can help bridge that gap. A structured league with franchises, competitive matches and wider visibility can give these players something meaningful to aspire to. I am delighted to be associated with an initiative that wants to take the game to players across the country.”
From Karnataka to a pan-India platform
The origins of ISCL could be traced to 2024, when the Karnataka Softball Premier League (KSPL) was developed to offer structured aggressive alternatives for softball cricketers throughout Karnataka. The expertise of constructing KSPL subsequently turned the inspiration for a a lot bigger nationwide imaginative and prescient.
In 2025, the Indian Softball Cricket League was established as a nationwide franchise-based platform, increasing the idea past Karnataka. The inaugural ISCL season featured 32 groups representing states and areas throughout India, with Punjab rising because the Season 1 champions. The league additionally broadened alternatives past its home competitors, together with an India vs Nepal worldwide match in the course of the 2025 season.
Reflecting on ISCL’s journey and its plans for the longer term, Founder and President Dr. Gangadhar Raju mentioned: “ISCL was born from a simple belief: talent should not be limited by geography or access. There are thousands of gifted softball and tennis-ball cricketers in cities, towns and villages who deserve an organised platform to demonstrate their skills. What began with Karnataka has now developed into a national movement with 32 franchises. Season 1 gave us tremendous confidence, and our objective now is to make Season 2 bigger, stronger and more professional while keeping grassroots players at the heart of everything we do.”
Season 2 marks the following section of growth
Following the profitable completion of its inaugural season, ISCL has entered its subsequent section of growth in 2026, with preparations for Season 2 specializing in strengthening its franchise ecosystem, increasing business and model partnerships and growing alternatives for gamers. The league’s increasing footprint was underlined by the addition of Vidarbha as a brand new franchise for Season 2 in June 2026.
Former IAS Officer and ISCL Board Chairman B H Anil Kumar mentioned the league’s long-term success can be constructed round sturdy governance and a sustainable skilled construction: “For any sporting property to grow sustainably, it requires credibility, transparency, professional administration and a clear long-term vision. ISCL is working towards creating that framework. Our responsibility is not merely to conduct a tournament, but to develop an ecosystem that players, franchises, partners and supporters can believe in and participate in for years to come.”
ISCL Board Vice Chairman Sanjeev Singh highlighted the significance of making a powerful connection between franchises and the communities they characterize: “The franchise model gives ISCL the opportunity to create strong regional identities while being part of one national competition. We want franchises to become deeply connected with their regions, discover local talent and build their own communities of supporters. As we move into Season 2, strengthening that franchise ecosystem will be one of our major priorities.”
Building a wider sporting and business ecosystem
Beyond offering aggressive alternatives to gamers, ISCL goals to create an ecosystem connecting gamers, franchises, followers, manufacturers and communities by softball cricket. With its pan-India attain and grassroots positioning, the league is trying to create alternatives for companies and types to have interaction with audiences throughout a number of areas whereas supporting the event of rising cricket expertise.
Kaushik Kalluri, AVP, Sony Sports, mentioned: “We are delighted to partner with the Indian Softball Cricket League (ISCL) as its official broadcaster for Season 2. Cricket in India has always drawn its strength from the grassroots, and ISCL provides an exciting platform for talented players from across the country to showcase their skills. At Sony Sports, we look forward to taking their stories and the competition to a wider audience and bringing fans closer to this unique format of the game.”
Noorul Ameen, Founder Director of My Asia Consulting Services, mentioned: “Sport today is not only about what happens on the field; successful leagues create communities and sustainable ecosystems around the competition. ISCL has an interesting proposition because it combines India’s enormous passion for cricket with grassroots participation and a franchise structure. As the league expands, there is considerable potential to build meaningful partnerships between ISCL, businesses, brands and regional communities.”
ISCL believes its progress may also help convey higher construction, recognition and visibility to a type of cricket that’s performed extensively throughout India however has historically lacked a big organised nationwide platform.
With Season 1 offering the inspiration and Season 2 representing the following stage of growth, the league’s long-term ambition is to ascertain a sustainable pathway by which proficient softball and tennis-ball cricketers from throughout the nation can compete, achieve recognition and characterize their areas on a nationwide stage.
About Indian Softball Cricket League (ISCL)
The Indian Softball Cricket League (ISCL) is a nationwide franchise-based softball/tennis-ball cricket league created to offer a structured {and professional} platform for grassroots cricket expertise throughout India. Its core goal is to establish proficient gamers from city, rural and distant areas and supply them with alternatives to compete on a bigger platform, characterize regional franchises and achieve higher visibility. ISCL options 32 franchise groups representing areas throughout India and operates underneath the Indian Softball Cricket Foundation (ISCF). Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, the league is led by Founder and President Dr. Gangadhar Raju, with former India cricketers Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh serving as Brand Ambassadors.
Website: www.isclcricket.in
For additional info contact:
Chandresh Narayanan
Playbook
Phone: +919819359780
Email: [email protected]/[email protected]Â
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press launch has been supplied by India PR Distribution. ANI won’t be accountable in any means for the content material of the identical.)