Jaipur. The second edition of the SPL Cricket Tournament, aimed at providing young cricketing talent with a national-level platform, was announced in Jaipur on Monday. The tournament will now be held under the name SPL Bharat Cup 2027. The upcoming edition will feature several major changes, including a T-12 format, a player auction system, the use of synthetic leather balls and a prize of ₹31 lakh for the winning team.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Constitution Club of Rajasthan in Jaipur. Chief Patron Pandit Devkinandan Thakur, 1983 World Cup-winning cricketer Madan Lal, Founder Vijay Sharma, Chief Advisor Sumit Tiwari, Strategic Advisor Ajay Bhatiwal, Chief of Cricket Operations Sanjeev Mishra and Secretary Yogesh Sharma were present on the occasion.
The organisers said that following the success of the first edition, extensive changes have been introduced to make the second edition more professional and transparent. The tournament will be held in February-March 2027. Matches will now be played in the T-12 format instead of T-10, while synthetic leather balls will replace tennis balls.
Chief Patron Pandit Devkinandan Thakur said that sport is not merely about winning or losing but is a powerful means of instilling discipline, character, patriotism and a sense of social responsibility among young people. He said the aim of SPL Bharat Cup is not only to provide a platform to cricketing talent but also to nurture responsible and inspirational youth.
Former international cricketer Madan Lal said there is no shortage of talent in small towns and villages. With the right opportunities and guidance, talented players can reach the national level. He added that a transparent selection process and competitive environment would provide players with better opportunities to progress.
Founder Vijay Sharma said players aged between 14 and 35 years will be eligible to participate in the tournament. Trials will be conducted across the country, following which an auction pool of 250 players will be prepared. Of these, 50 players will be selected based on their performance in the first edition and 200 through trials. The eight teams will then select 128 players through the auction, with each team comprising 16 players.
Players will be placed in A, B and C categories based on their performance. The base price for Category A players has been fixed at ₹75,000, ₹50,000 for Category B and ₹25,000 for Category C.
Eight teams representing Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan will participate in the tournament.
According to the organisers, the winning team will receive ₹31 lakh, while the runners-up will be awarded ₹21 lakh. The Man of the Series will receive a car, while the Best Batsman and Best Bowler will each be awarded a motorcycle.
The organising committee said the SPL Bharat Cup aims not only to conduct a cricket tournament but also to promote social causes through sport and provide young players with opportunities to reach the national level.