The iconic Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar roared back to life on Wednesday as it hosted the first-ever Legends League Cricket (LLC) match, marking the return of international cricket to the Valley after a 40-year hiatus.
The opening game, held between Toyam Hyderabad and Southern Super Stars, drew an enthusiastic crowd from across the region, signaling a revival of the sport in Kashmir.
The match began at 3 pm, with certain sections of the stands packed to capacity, while others witnessed lighter attendance. Excitement was palpable among the fans, many of whom had been eagerly awaiting this historic moment. “After so many years, international cricket has returned to Srinagar. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime,” said Aquib Ahmad, a local resident from Srinagar, who stood in a long queue to enter the stadium.
“My grandfather used to talk about the International matches that were played here in the 1980’s. We urge the government to start hosting more matches in future and also develop infrastructure across the Valley,” he said.
Faisal Javid from Pulwama, another passionate fan, expressed his joy at seeing cricket legends in action. “I have been following these players for years on TV, and seeing them live is a dream come true. This is a day I will never forget,” he said, adding that such events could help boost tourism and infrastructure development in the Valley.
“Last year, I watched two matches in Jammu. Now, this match in Srinagar has revived the spirit of cricket here. We are hopeful that more international leagues will be hosted in Kashmir, not only to boost tourism but also to upgrade the region’s basic infrastructure,” Javid said.
Zubair Malik, who arrived two hours before the match, described the event as more than just a game. “It feels like Kashmir’s heart is beating with cricket again. This is a celebration of sport and unity. We hope the government will continue to host such matches and even bring IPL to the region in the future,” he remarked.
“Last year, I watched two matches in Jammu. Now, this match in Srinagar has revived the spirit of cricket here. We are hopeful that more international leagues will be hosted in Kashmir, not only to boost tourism but also to upgrade the region’s basic infrastructure,” Javid said.
As the match progressed, the stadium witnessed an electrifying atmosphere. Tight security arrangements were in place outside the venue, while fans inside the stadium enjoyed a rare opportunity to see their cricketing heroes up close, with several players signing autographs.
In the game itself, Toyam Hyderabad emerged victorious, defeating Southern Super Stars by five wickets. Southern Super Stars, batting first, posted 153/5 in their 20 overs, with key contributions from Shreevats Goswami (37) and Chirag Gandhi (33). For Toyam Hyderabad, Sudeep Tyagi led the bowling attack, taking 2/22.
For Toyam Hyderabad, Sudeep Tyagi took 2/22 in 3 overs. Ravi Jangid (1/24), Shadab Jakati (1/28) and Shivakant Shukla (1/18) took one wicket each in the innings.
Chasing a target of 154 on the board, George Worker and Peter Trego opened the innings for Toyam Hyderabad. They were down to 16/1 in 1.3 overs after losing the wicket of Trego(13). George Worker scored 19 from 12 balls.
Skipper Gurkeerat Singh Mann made 32 from 26 balls. Ravi Jangid remained unbeaten on 42* from 48 balls to help his team win the match. Samiullah Shinwari also remained not out on 17 from 12 balls. Toyam Hyderabad chased down the target in 18.2 overs.
For Southern Superstars, Abdur Razzak was the pick of the bowlers who took 2/39 in 4 overs. Hamid Hassan (1/44), Pawan Negi (1/15) and Kedar Jadhav (1/18) took one wicket each in the innings.
India Capitals vs. Manipal Tigers on October 10. Konark Surya Odisha will take on Gujarat Team on Oct 11. The highly anticipated Grand Final will be played on October 16, featuring the winners of the Qualifier and Semi-Final.
Kashmir has hosted only two One Day Internationals (ODIs) played in Srinagar. The first, on October 13, 1983, saw India face West Indies, with the latter winning by 28 runs. In the second match in 1986, India was defeated by Australia.
