Sher-e-Punjab T20 League launched; Gill, Arshdeep set to headline
Synopsis
Punjab has launched its own T20 league — and it has the star power to back it up. With Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh headlining, six city franchises, a ₹45 lakh salary purse per side, and an auction on 9 August, the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is positioning itself as a serious domestic feeder competition — and a statement of Punjab cricket's ambition.
Key Takeaways
The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League was launched on 2 August 2025 at the PCA International Cricket Stadium , New Chandigarh.
The inaugural edition runs from 30 August to 13 September , featuring 6 franchises and 27 matches .
India captain Shubman Gill and pacer Arshdeep Singh are among the marquee names set to feature.
The player auction takes place on 9 August ; each franchise holds a salary purse of ₹45 lakh and a maximum squad of 20 players .
Franchises represent Amritsar , Fazilka , Jalandhar , Ludhiana , Mohali , and Bathinda .
The league was described as a visionary initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann .
The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League was officially unveiled at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on 2 August 2025, marking the launch of a new domestic T20 competition designed to give Punjab's emerging cricketers a structured professional pathway. India captain Shubman Gill and pacer Arshdeep Singh were present at the ceremony alongside Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) officials.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The inaugural edition will run from 30 August to 13 September, featuring six franchises competing across 27 matches in a round-robin format. The competing franchises will represent Amritsar, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Bathinda. The player auction is scheduled for 9 August, when the six sides will assemble their squads.
Purse Structure and Player Valuations
Each franchise has been allocated a salary purse of ₹45 lakh. Marquee players will be valued at ₹10 lakh, while the base price for an icon player has been set at ₹1.5 lakh. Base prices for Punjab first-class, under-23, under-19, and district-level players have been fixed at ₹1 lakh, ₹75,000, ₹50,000, and ₹20,000 respectively. Each franchise can field a maximum squad of 20 players.
Star Names Set to Feature
The league is expected to showcase several of Punjab's most prominent cricketers, including Abhishek Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, and Ramandeep Singh, alongside Gill and Arshdeep. The presence of active internationals is intended to raise the competition's profile and give younger players direct exposure to top-level standards.
What the Officials Said
Speaking at the launch, Gill described the league as an ideal platform for young cricketers. 'Punjab has always produced outstanding cricketers, and I believe this league will help discover many more. I congratulate the Punjab Cricket Association for this wonderful initiative and wish the league great success,' he said.
PCA secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who co-launched the event alongside president Amarjeet Singh Mehta, said Punjab's cricketing depth was unmatched, citing a lineage stretching from Lala Amarnath and Yuvraj Singh to current internationals including Harmanpreet Kaur. Meet Hayer described the league as a visionary initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. 'This league will provide young cricketers with a platform to showcase their talent alongside international stars,' he added.
PCA president Mehta said the competition would allow aspiring cricketers to share a dressing room with international stars. 'The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will play an important role in shaping and further cementing the future of Punjab cricket,' he said. Also present at the ceremony were PCA vice-president Deepak Bali, treasurer Sunil Gupta, and joint secretary Sidhant Sharma, who felicitated franchise owners and players.
Broader Significance
The launch comes at a time when state-level T20 leagues have been gaining traction across India as feeders to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the national team setup. Punjab's track record of producing international talent gives the competition a credible foundation. Whether the league can sustain momentum beyond its inaugural edition — and whether its franchise model delivers on the promise of discovering the next generation — will be the real measure of its success.
Point of View
And its credibility rests almost entirely on whether active internationals like Gill and Arshdeep actually participate meaningfully — or merely lend their names to the launch. The ₹45 lakh franchise purse is modest by IPL standards, which could limit the quality of foreign or out-of-state talent. Punjab's cricketing pedigree is real, but converting that heritage into a self-sustaining franchise league requires governance, broadcast deals, and consistent on-field quality that no launch ceremony can guarantee.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League?
The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is a new domestic T20 competition organised by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), designed to provide emerging Punjab cricketers a professional platform. The inaugural edition runs from 30 August to 13 September 2025, featuring six city-based franchises across 27 matches.
Which cricketers will play in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League?
India captain Shubman Gill and pacer Arshdeep Singh are among the marquee names confirmed to feature. Other prominent Punjab cricketers including Abhishek Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, and Ramandeep Singh are also set to participate.
When is the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League player auction?
The player auction for the inaugural edition is scheduled for 9 August 2025. The six franchises — representing Amritsar, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, and Bathinda — will assemble their squads on that date, each with a salary purse of ₹45 lakh.
What are the player base prices in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League?
Marquee players are valued at ₹10 lakh, while icon players carry a base price of ₹1.5 lakh. Punjab first-class players start at ₹1 lakh, under-23 players at ₹75,000, under-19 players at ₹50,000, and district-level players at ₹20,000. Each franchise can hold a maximum of 20 players.
Who organised the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League?
The league was organised by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) and launched by PCA secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and president Amarjeet Singh Mehta. It has been described as a visionary initiative of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
