कोल्हापूर फिल्म कंपनी 'विठ्ठल दर्शन' अभिनेते जितेंद्र जोशी सादरीकरण करणार

ISPL has upscaled tennis ball cricket, says Chennai Singams’ Prashant Gharat

For Virar boy, “Tennis ball cricket is a glamorous professional sport now”

Prashant Gharat seamlessly transformed from being a former national-level 400m athlete and a state-level kho kho player into a force to reckon with in the country’s competitive tennis ball cricket circuit.

The 28-year-old top-order batsman from Virar will be making his Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) debut with Chennai Singams in the second edition starting on January 26 at the Dadoji Konddev Stadium in Thane.

Last year’s semi-finalists Chennai Singams will begin their campaign with a match against Falcon Risers Hyderabad on January 27. The extended season 2 will run for 21 days, promising more excitement and action for teams as well as spectators.

“It is my dream to play in the ISPL and I am grateful to Chennai Singams for placing faith in me,” said Gharat, who was acquired by the Lions for INR 5.75 lakh at the auction, and proposes to use the money to pay for an existing housing loan.

“I made it to the auction stage in the inaugural edition last year but was overlooked and didn’t get selected. I am thankful to Singams’ think-tank for seeing potential in me,” added Gharat, who lives with his mother and two brothers.

Gharat turned into a full-time professional tennis ball cricketer three years ago, playing as a freelancer for teams in tournaments across the country, apart from being a regular for his home side, Arnala Club.

He said he came into prominence in 2021-22. “That was when I was adjudged Best Batsman of the Tournament at the Ratnagiri Champions League while playing professionally for a team from Pune,” said Gharat, who grew up idolising Sachin Tendulkar and whose batting style is influenced by Suryakumar Yadav.

“The ISPL has upscaled tennis ball cricket in the country. It is no more a past time, ISPL has turned it into a glamorous professional sport,” he concluded. 

Chennai Singams Squad

Icon Player: Deepak Dogra | All-Rounder | North Zone

Zone Wise Break–Up

• South Zone: R. Thavith Kumar (All-Rounder), Siyyadri (Batter), V. Vignesh (All-Rounder)

• West Zone: Shubam Sangale (Bowler), Vedant Mayekar (All-Rounder), Ketan Mhatre - RTM (Batter), Sumeet Dhekale - RTM (Batter), Rahul Sawant (All-Rounder), Jignesh Patel (All-Rounder)

• East Zone: Jagat Sarkar (Batter), David Gogoi (Bowler) 

• North Zone: Anurag Sharshar (Bowler), Farhat Ahmad (Bowler) 

• Central Zone: Prashant Gharat (Batter), Mohammed Zeeshan (Bowler)