Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt graced the opening ceremony of the All Stars Ball Tennis Cricket League (ASTCL) in Mumbai on February 9, 2026. The event, which blended sports and entertainment, saw the presence of other celebrities including Shilpa Shetty.
The All Stars Ball Tennis Cricket League is a sports league featuring television and film personalities. The league provides a platform for actors to showcase their athletic talents and passion for cricket. It was conceptualized to recreate the nostalgia of childhood "gully cricket" with a professional setup.
The league's matches are scheduled to take place from February 9 to February 14, 2026, at the Wings Sports Center in Bandra, Mumbai. The matches will be broadcast on Sony Sports 5 and streamed on the league's official OTT platforms.
The All Stars Tennis Ball Cricket League was founded by Bunty Walia and Vanessa Walia. The league's technical aspects are overseen by Apoorva Lakhia.
Ten teams are participating in this season, competing in a league-cum-knockout format across 23 matches. The final match is scheduled for Valentine's Day. The participating teams include Punjab Bulls, Pune Falcons, Delhi Dragons, Mumbai Kings, Gujarat Lions, Kumari Jets, Pehlwaan Panthers, Desi Veer Hawks, Anvis Tigers, and Rajasthan Jaguars.
Several well-known personalities own and captain the teams. Arjun Bijlani and Neha Bijlani own Mumbai Kings, while Raj Kundra and Ranjit Bindra own Punjab Bulls, which is captained by Aly Goni. Vikas Jain and Ankita Lokhande Jain own Delhi Dragons, and Karan Wahi co-owns and captains the team with Aaryamann Sseth. Other team captains include Karanvir Bohra for Rajasthan Jaguars, Aamir Ali for Gujarat Lions, Rohit Roy for Pune Falcons, and Surya Sharma for Chennai Ninjas.
The league has a theme of "Bachpan Ka Khel Karega Entertain", aiming to revive childhood memories associated with cricket. Interactive elements are incorporated to allow fans to engage with players, vote on game moments, and participate in virtual meet-and-greets.
Sanjay Dutt, along with Mokksh Sani and Manish Sani, acquired The Glenwalk Lions team in the ASTCL. Dutt expressed that his attraction to ASTCL went beyond the sport, emphasizing the league's heart and its aim to drive real-world impact.
The Celebrity Cricket League (CCL), a similar concept, has been running since 2011 and features film actors from various Indian film industries. The CCL has gained popularity over the years, blending entertainment and sports.