Sunil Joshi says Uttarakhand Premier League offers India pathway

The Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) is becoming a crucial platform for young cricketers from Uttarakhand to advance towards the Indian Premier League (IPL), Women’s Premier League (WPL) and ultimately the Indian national team, said UPL Chairperson Sunil Joshi.

Joshi highlighted that the league provides a competitive environment for a broader pool of players, including those who may not immediately secure places in Uttarakhand’s age-group or senior state teams. “UPL is a platform for players. It gives them a pathway to move towards the India level and potentially the IPL. There are several state-level competitions, including Ranji Trophy and Under-19 cricket, but UPL gives opportunities to players who may not have been selected for those teams. They get a chance to play for one of the teams and showcase their talent,” he said.

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He added, “Our aim is to give these young players as many opportunities as possible so that they can improve themselves, make Uttarakhand proud and eventually reach the India level. We want their talent to be recognised and for them to go on to represent India.”

The league has already witnessed several players making

The league has already witnessed several players making significant career progress. Joshi cited cricketers such as Raghvi Bisht, Prema Rawat, Neelam Bhardwaj and Akash Madhwal as examples of emerging talent from the region. “We have seen players like Raghvi Bisht, Prema Rawat, Neelam Bhardwaj and several other young cricketers coming through the system. There are also players from UPL who have gone on to play in the IPL. We have seen the example of Akash Madhwal as well, and there are many other youngsters who are moving forward,” he said.

Joshi noted one of UPL’s chief strengths is the extensive number of players it involves within a competitive setting. The seven teams in the tournament feature around 77 players, offering opportunities beyond the limited slots in a traditional Ranji Trophy or state squad. “That is exactly what we want from UPL. There are seven teams and around 77 players getting an opportunity through those teams. If you compare that with the limited number of places available in a Ranji team, UPL gives a much larger pool of players the opportunity to showcase their talent,” he stated.

He also emphasised efforts to identify talent from Uttarakhand’s remote and mountainous areas. The talent pipeline begins at the grassroots, progressing from village and district-level cricket to the state system. “The system works from the village level to the district level and then from the district to the state. Children who play cricket in villages are identified and brought into the district system. Even if the facilities at that level are limited, the children continue to work hard and develop their skills,” Joshi explained.

After that, they get the opportunity to come

“After that, they get the opportunity to come to bigger grounds and showcase their talent. Ultimately, their hard work is what takes them forward. Prema Rawat is one such example of a player who has come through a challenging background and reached this level,” he added.

Joshi acknowledged the contributions of former secretary Mahim Verma and PC Verma in building the cricketing infrastructure and strengthening the system across Uttarakhand’s districts.

Reflecting on the current season’s competitiveness, Joshi observed that the number of closely fought matches reveals the depth of emerging talent. “Most of the boys playing are around 19 or 20 years old, and they simply need opportunities to play at this level. UPL is providing them with that chance. There are one or two quality players in every team, which is why the matches are so competitive, and we are seeing close contests,” he said.

Looking forward, Joshi expressed his ambition for UPL

Looking forward, Joshi expressed his ambition for UPL to expand its role as a bridge connecting grassroots cricket with the highest levels of the sport. “Our vision is to see UPL continue to grow and produce more players for the IPL, the Women’s Premier League and, ultimately, the Indian team. Every player wants to represent the country, and we want to create an environment where more youngsters from Uttarakhand get that opportunity,” he said.

Joshi concluded, “I have closely followed the tournament. I have seen a lot of talent among the people and young players here. They needed a stage to showcase that talent, and UPL is providing them with that platform. We hope to see many more players from Uttarakhand go on to represent India.”

Source: www.bing.com