Cricket icon Sourav Ganguly has joined Tiigers of Kolkata as a Co-Owner and Mentor ahead of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) Season 3. The announcement, made on December 18, 2025, marks a significant strengthening of the franchise's long-term vision and cricketing philosophy.
The ISPL is a T10 tennis-ball cricket tournament. Season 3 is scheduled to be held at the Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat from January 9 to February 6, 2026. Ganguly's induction as co-owner signals a long-term association with the franchise, aligning his leadership experience and understanding of grassroots cricket with Tiigers of Kolkata's broader ambition.
In his role as mentor, Ganguly will work closely with the 18-member squad, playing a key part in shaping player development and building a sustainable pathway for emerging talent. Ganguly said he's excited to begin this new journey with Aspect Sports and Tiigers of Kolkata. He added that tennis-ball cricket has always been close to the roots of the game, especially in the East and across Kolkata, and that his focus will be on helping these players shape their natural instincts into match-winning habits, while creating a clear pathway for growth and that development needs clarity, trust, and patience.
Ganguly is widely regarded as the architect of modern Indian cricket and is credited with reshaping teams through belief, aggression, and clarity of purpose, backing a generation of players who went on to define the sport. His legacy as a leader and batsman now becomes part of Tiigers of Kolkata's identity, reinforcing standards of cricketing excellence.
Aksha Kamboj, Executive Chairperson of Aspect Global Ventures and Co-Owner of Tiigers of Kolkata, said that having Ganguly join as a co-owner is incredibly special. Kamboj also noted Ganguly's understanding of grassroots development and belief in backing players early and building strong foundations aligns completely with their long-term vision, and his presence gives Tiigers both credibility and direction as they build for the future.
Suraj Samat, League Commissioner of the Indian Street Premier League, added that Ganguly's association with the Tiigers of Kolkata franchise adds immense value to the ecosystem they are building. Samat also stated that as ISPL continues to grow as a platform for street and tennis-ball cricketers, Ganguly's involvement with the team elevates both the league's credibility and its long-term vision.
The Tiigers of Kolkata squad includes Hritik Patil, Shivam Kumar, Arish Khan, Krushna Gawali, Vivek Mohanan, Firdos Alam, Prabjot Singh, Kiran Pawar, Mahesh Nangude, Vivek Shelar, Pavan Kene, Karan More, along with under-19 talents Himanshu Patil and Ankit Yadav.
With Ganguly joining the ownership group and cricketing setup, Tiigers of Kolkata enter ISPL Season 3 with a strengthened foundation rooted in Kolkata's cricketing legacy, a clear development pathway, and leadership focused on long-term growth.
The ISPL features a prize pool of ₹5.92 crore for Season 3. The Season 3 champions will receive ₹2 crore, while the runners-up will be awarded ₹1 crore. The Most Valuable Player of the season will receive a brand-new Porsche 911.
