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The Assam Premier League has concluded its inaugural edition with Barpeta Braves being crowned champions after a five-wicket victory over Guwahati Royals in the Final on Sunday, bringing the tournament to a close following a season that saw several impressive performances from both established and emerging players.
The inaugural edition also emerged as a strong launchpad for emerging talent. Denish Das earned a place in the Duleep Trophy squad, signing off his stint with the Assam Premier League with a century just before leaving, according to a press release. Rohit Sen, Bastab Roy, Shubham Kumar Gupta and Ayushman Malakar also impressed throughout the tournament, underlining the next generation of cricketing talent emerging from the state, while 150 players across eight teams from Assam used the platform to make an impression. The league attracted significant attention from the wider cricketing ecosystem, with scouts from IPL franchises Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru present at every match. Mithun Manhas, BCCI President, was also in attendance, further highlighting the growing interest in the talent emerging from Assam. The inaugural edition delivered high-quality, competitive cricket, with multiple 200-plus scores, successful chases and thrilling last-over finishes. The Final drew more than 25,000 spectators, underlining the league's strong connect with cricket fans across Assam. Commenting on the tournament, Taranga Gogoi, President, Assam Cricket Association, said, "The Assam Premier League is an important platform for the development of cricket in Assam. The performances we have seen this season demonstrate the talent that exists across the state. Providing players with regular competitive opportunities is essential for their development, and we hope this league continues to contribute to the growth of Assam cricket. The league's success also reflects the increasing importance of state-level competitions in Indian cricket, particularly as talent continues to emerge from markets beyond the country's traditional cricketing centres." The APL's impact extended beyond the stadium, generating more than 100 million organic social media views during the tournament. This reach was achieved without media spend, influencer campaigns or reliance on players with large social media followings, reflecting the genuine interest generated by the league and its local connection. The inaugural edition also made a strong start from a commercial perspective, with 14 sponsors and partners across categories. The breadth of the partner portfolio provides an encouraging foundation for the league's commercial growth and reflects early confidence in the property. Lokesh Sharma, MD, TCM Sports said, "The APL was a wonderful celebration of cricket in Assam. It gave the people of the state a league they could truly call their own, while providing a strong platform for emerging talent to perform and gain national recognition. The performances of Denish Das, Rohit Sen, Bastab Roy, Shubham Kumar Gupta and Ayushman Malakar were particularly encouraging. The quality of cricket was outstanding, with several 200-plus scores, successful 200-run chases and matches going down to the final over. A packed stadium of 25,000 people was perhaps the strongest testimony to the place the league had already found in the hearts of local fans. The exciting cricket, emerging talent and tremendous fan engagement made it a memorable first season and raised great hopes for the future of the APL." Building on its work in Assam, TCM Sports continues to strengthen cricket ecosystems across the country through its role in leagues across multiple states, including TG20 in Telangana and the Maharaja Trophy in Karnataka. Across these properties, the focus remains on creating credible platforms for local talent, delivering competitive opportunities and building sustainable regional cricket ecosystems. (ANI)
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