He was told he did not have it in him to make it big. But he did not give up. Mumbai’s Pravin Tambe made it to the IPL 2013 at the age of 41 when almost everyone would give up on their dreams. Tambe went on to take a hat-trick in IPL 2014 after making a long-awaited First Class debut for Mumbai in December 2013. Former India cricketer Rudra Pratap Singh (senior) cited Tambe’s example to inspire aspiring cricketers who would rub shoulders with former international players at the Big Cricket League.
“We want to give them the experience of playing in a professional league. There are trials and camps and then they will play in the league. The idea is to showcase their talents. If Pravin Tambe can fulfil his dream at 39-40 like we have seen him doing in real life and the movie, it’s for everyone. My message to everyone would be to never stop dreaming,” RP Singh told InsideSport in an exclusive chat in Mumbai.
“All cricketers have a dream of playing for the state team or the national team and become a big player. But for various reasons, even the most talented players fail to make it big. So this initiative is for those players to realise their dreams,” RP Singh told InsideSport in an exclusive chat in Mumbai.
What is Big Cricket League?
Unlike leagues like LLC and other T20 leagues for retired players, the Big Cricket League provides aspiring cricketers who could not make it big with an opportunity to play alongside some renowned superstars. Notable players such as Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Herschelle Gibbs are set to be part of this league. Former India captain and chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar inaugurated the Big Cricket League in Mumbai. BCL draft also took place on Saturday.
Each team will consist of an 18-member squad, featuring six international stars, one of whom will be a marquee player. Additionally, the squad will include two First Class players and ten promising Indian talents. In each playing XI, there will be four former internationals, including the marquee player, alongside two First Class players and five aspiring talents.
Big Cricket League format
The BCL 2025 will feature six teams, each comprising 18 players. Teams will compete against one another in a round-robin format. The team that tops the Points Table at the end of the league stage will secure a direct spot in the final. Overall, the tournament will include 18 matches: 15 league stage games, two playoff matches, and the grand final.
The BCL will include an Eliminator and a Qualifier round. The third-place team will face the fourth-place team in the Eliminator. The winner of this match will then compete against the second-place team in the Qualifier. The victor of the Qualifier will advance to the final to battle it out with the team that topped the league stage. The champions will receive a prize of $50,000.
