Anjaneya Tewari, Chandigarh— A thrilling new chapter in Punjab’s cricketing history officially kicked off this Sunday at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, with the official launch of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League.
The star studded event was graced by Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill and ace pacer Arshdeep Singh, alongside Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and President Amarjeet Singh Mehta.
“Call It Superstition”: Gill’s Match-Day Lucky Charm
While the press conference was packed with major tournament announcements, the highlight of the afternoon came when Shubman Gill shared a candid personal moment about match day luck.
Can you believe that even top-tier international cricketers who perform on the world stage still hold onto classic cricket superstitions?
“My father wears a kurta pyjama in all my matches. You can call it a superstition if you want, but whenever he does, I either score more runs or we end up winning more matches,” Gill revealed with a smile.
The lighthearted confession drew smiles across the media room, showing that no matter how big the stage gets, a little bit of match-day luck is always welcome.
Tournament Dates, Teams, and Format
The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is scheduled to run from August 30 to September 13, bringing 27 high-voltage matches to cricket fans.
A total of six franchises—representing Amritsar, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Bathinda—will compete in a round-robin format. Each team will feature a balance of marquee players, icon stars, domestic performers, and grassroots talent from Punjab.
Along with Gill and Arshdeep Singh, top stars like Abhishek Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, and Ramandeep Singh are set to headline the tournament.
A Launchpad for Punjab’s Future Stars
Conceived as a visionary initiative under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the league aims to provide a professional pathway for young cricketers to step into national and international spotlights.
Speaking on the initiative, Shubman Gill added: “The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is a fantastic platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent and progress towards playing for Punjab and India. Punjab has always produced outstanding cricketers, and I believe this league will help discover many more.”
PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer highlighted Punjab’s rich legacy—from Lala Amarnath and Yuvraj Singh to present-day icons like Harmanpreet Kaur and Arshdeep Singh—reiterating that this domestic league will cement the state’s position as a cricket powerhouse.
Auction & Financial Breakdown
The squads will be finalized during the official player auction on August 9.
Here are the key financial details for the inaugural season:
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Franchise Salary Purse: ₹45 Lakh per team
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Marquee Player Price: ₹10 Lakh (Fixed)
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Icon Player Base Price: ₹1.50 Lakh
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Punjab First-Class Players Base Price: ₹1 Lakh
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U-23 Players Base Price: ₹75,000
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U-19 Players Base Price: ₹50,000
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District Players Base Price: ₹20,000
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Maximum Squad Size: 20 players
With the official logo unveiled and auction dates set, anticipation is building fast for what promises to be one of the premier domestic T20 tournaments in the country.
