Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium
Hampshire’s takeover deal with Delhi Capitals could have a positive spin off for the region’s ECB Southern Premier Division clubs.
On the back of the deal with GMR, joint owners of the Capitals IPL franchise, a host of talented Indian youngsters could be making their way across from the sub-continent to play in the SPL this coming season.
Several of the players are believed to be in India’s Under-19 World Cup squad - they were beaten finalists in 2024 - and may arrive in time for the opening round of SPL matches on May 3.
"The interest from 17 and 18 year olds to spend a summer playing club cricket in Hampshire has predictably been enormous - we've had trials galore so we can cherry pick - but it’s far from straightforward for our cricketers to pack their bags and hop on an Air India flight to London Heathrow,” explained a Delhi cricket spokesman.
“Everyone will need a visa and you just can’t wander in a shop and buy one off the shelf.
“We will be processing the visas enbloc, so they can all come to England on the same flight.”
In order to facilitate the incoming Indian cricketers, the Premier League will have to tweak its own rules regarding foreign nationals.
Presently, clubs are only permitted one overseas player but, if all ten Premier teams are allocated a player, it shouldn’t be too difficult for clubs to vote to amend the regulations at an EGM.
It is anticipated the ten players will be allocated to clubs by ballot so, by the time the cricket party leaves Delhi, everyone knows who will be going to Bashley, Lymington, South Wilts and so on.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is among India's cricket hotbeds, with Virat Kohli, Priyansh Arya, and Rishabh Pant all having gone through the DCA academy set to supply Southern Premier League clubs this summer.
Curry is now acknowledged as a UK national dish (Chicken Tikka Masala is the most popular) and numerous local Indian restaurants are keen to take advantage of the advertising opportunities afforded by the Indian stars of the future.
With India here this summer for a five Test Series generating additional interest in the Indian community, the anticipated boost in spectator numbers can only bode well for SPL cricket.
On the back of the deal with GMR, joint owners of the Capitals IPL franchise, a host of talented Indian youngsters could be making their way across from the sub-continent to play in the SPL this coming season.
Several of the players are believed to be in India’s Under-19 World Cup squad - they were beaten finalists in 2024 - and may arrive in time for the opening round of SPL matches on May 3.
"The interest from 17 and 18 year olds to spend a summer playing club cricket in Hampshire has predictably been enormous - we've had trials galore so we can cherry pick - but it’s far from straightforward for our cricketers to pack their bags and hop on an Air India flight to London Heathrow,” explained a Delhi cricket spokesman.
“Everyone will need a visa and you just can’t wander in a shop and buy one off the shelf.
“We will be processing the visas enbloc, so they can all come to England on the same flight.”
In order to facilitate the incoming Indian cricketers, the Premier League will have to tweak its own rules regarding foreign nationals.
Presently, clubs are only permitted one overseas player but, if all ten Premier teams are allocated a player, it shouldn’t be too difficult for clubs to vote to amend the regulations at an EGM.
It is anticipated the ten players will be allocated to clubs by ballot so, by the time the cricket party leaves Delhi, everyone knows who will be going to Bashley, Lymington, South Wilts and so on.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is among India's cricket hotbeds, with Virat Kohli, Priyansh Arya, and Rishabh Pant all having gone through the DCA academy set to supply Southern Premier League clubs this summer.
Curry is now acknowledged as a UK national dish (Chicken Tikka Masala is the most popular) and numerous local Indian restaurants are keen to take advantage of the advertising opportunities afforded by the Indian stars of the future.
With India here this summer for a five Test Series generating additional interest in the Indian community, the anticipated boost in spectator numbers can only bode well for SPL cricket.
Rishabh Pant, raised in Delhi
