'ISPL gives everybody a chance to showcase their talent': Sourav Ganguly becomes co-owner and ambassador of Tiigers of Kolkata

Sourav Ganguly has spent decades at the heart of Indian cricket, from junior camps and high-pressure overseas tours to the boardroom and the commentary box. Yet, even after everything the game has given him, it is the familiar rhythms of street cricket that now seem to have drawn him back in.

The former India captain has stepped into a new role as co-owner and ambassador of the Tiigers of Kolkata franchise in the Indian Street Premier League.




The ISPL, built around tennis-ball cricket and the raw energy of the streets, taps into memories Ganguly knows intimately — of learning ball sense with improvised equipment, of dreaming big in small spaces, and of a country where cricket remains an obsession.

In an exclusive conversation with TimesofIndia.com, Ganguly reflects on why the ISPL resonates with him, the importance of giving young players a visible platform, the quiet influence of Sachin Tendulkar’s involvement, and why tennis-ball cricket may still be one of the purest gateways to discovering India’s next generation of talent.

Excerpts:

What prompted you to become co-owner and ambassador of the Tiigers of Kolkata franchise?

I've watched this tournament for the last three years on TV and you must give a lot of credit to Suraj Samat (ISPL League Commissioner) for organising this and creating a platform for young players to play. You know how big cricket is in India. There is so much happening all around the country in terms of states, districts, universities. Everybody wants to play the game. Not everybody gets an opportunity at the state level because you get selected and scrutinised and then given an opportunity to play at the top. But what this does is... gives everybody a chance to showcase their talent. I think that's the reason we are all attached to it. My very dear friend Sachin (Tendulkar) is a part of it. I have watched him for 3 years, how much time he gives to it.

We've all played tennis ball cricket at a young age. When you are 8-10 years old, the best thing is to give your children a tennis ball because it doesn't hurt them. And they still get to understand the ball sense. And as they keep getting older, the ball sense actually takes over when they play the hard ball.

So I think it's a great opportunity for everyone to show talent. And this country is obsessed with cricket. And what ISPL does is it gives an opportunity and a platform for them to showcase their talent and then you never know.

How important is Sachin's involvement in your decision making towards co-owning and mentoring a team?

I have seen him on TV. I have never discussed with him about this because obviously I didn't know that I would be a part of it someday. But I have seen him play with tennis ball when he was young. The greatness he has achieved over the years... I have known him from Under-15 days.

The camps in junior cricket, cricket was different then. We used to all play with the tennis ball wrapped in plastic. Get used to swing bowling. Get used to short-pitch bowling. And that's how all of us have taken to this game. And I saw ISPL on TV. And I was speaking to Suraj that the ball swings so much. And the bat speed of some of the players who play and the distance they hit on those big grounds is remarkable. What stands out for me is their excitement. Their excitement to be seen on TV. Their excitement to be noticed because they get immediate recognition in their localities. 'Ki yeh bhi khel sakta hai!' (He can also play well) That is the most important thing in India with cricket. 'Ki yeh bhi khel sakta hai'. So that's how it is.

What are your first memories of playing tennis ball cricket as a youngster?

We all have done it. Even when I used to play for India, I used to use a wet tennis ball to get used to fast bowling when we used to go to Australia, South Africa. There were those plastic balls and there were those wet tennis balls which (we used to) get used to the bounce. And we have all done it. And as I said, the best thing what this (tennis ball cricket) will do at this stage is give you ball sense. Give you an idea how to play, how to score runs and adjust to different conditions. And then the hard ball takes over.

So, as I said, it's an opportunity to play cricket. And we have seen how popular it (ISPL) has become in the last few years around India. And I am not surprised. As I said, cricket is so popular in India. It's an opportunity in showing a dream to a lot of boys and girls who want to play this sport.

How do you and Tiigers of Kolkata plan to expand the reach of tennis-ball cricket and identify the next generation of talent from the Eastern part of the country?
It already has a massive reach. And if you look at the numbers which are still generated for the last few years, from which they get players and bring them to the auction to give them the opportunity to play matches. And then from there, select the best to be on the main team during the tournament which goes on for a month. So, they have a reach in any case. And hopefully, it will prompt young players to keep playing in the days to come.