DPL 3.0 – A Celebration of Cricket and Women Empowerment

1. Introduction & Background

Following the remarkable success of the Department Premier League (DPL) 2.0, the Department Cricket Development Committee of Uttarakhand (DCDCU) proudly launched DPL 3.0 in 2024. This edition marked another chapter in Uttarakhand’s most awaited inter-departmental cricket event, known for its professionalism, competitive spirit, and strong community involvement.

The DPL has always been more than just cricket—it is a platform to unite departments, promote sportsmanship, and deliver a professional tournament experience. This year’s theme, “Women Empowerment”, reflected DCDCU’s commitment to equality and inclusivity in sports.

2. Tournament Highlights

• Venue: Aryan Chhetri Cricket Ground – a lush green, well-maintained cricket field equipped with modern facilities, quality practice areas, and a well-prepared wicket to ensure top-class matches.
• Announcement Date: September 2024.
• Match Timings: All matches were scheduled during daytime for player comfort and maximum spectator engagement.
• Match Days: Each day hosted two matches for a packed cricketing experience.
• Live Coverage: Matches were broadcast live on Set Sports Channel, bringing the excitement to viewers across the state.
• Umpiring & Scoring: Conducted by BCCI panel umpires, ensuring professional officiating and accurate scoring.
• Participation Limit: Due to the high number of franchise applications, DCDCU limited participation to 10 teams for quality management and smooth operations.

3. Sponsors & Support

Title Sponsor: Mr. Sandeep Sir, Doon Defence Academy – a committed supporter of DCDCU events and an excellent leg-spinner himself. His consistent encouragement and sponsorship have been a cornerstone for the league’s success.

4. Teams in DPL 3.0

• Food Warriors
• Education Super Kings
• Tax Flickers
• Brave Warrior of Uttarakhand
• Sachivalaya Super Kings
• FDA Legends
• Sidcul Raising Star
• MDDA Elight Victor
• Royal Rangers
• Irrigation Phoenix

5. Draft Ceremony & Auction Process

• Venue: GK RESIDENCY
• Attendance: All franchise owners attended the event along with their four icon players.
• Auction: Conducted live on Set Sports, featuring around 200 players in the pool. Franchises selected their squads through a competitive bidding process.
• Digital Tools: An online auction calculator was available for franchises to monitor their spending and manage points allocation.
• Special Guest: Mr. Manish Gurung Sir, a legend of Indian cricket and Chief Selector of DCDCU, graced the event with his presence.
• President’s Address: The DCDCU President delivered an inspiring speech, emphasizing fair play, team spirit, and the importance of women’s participation in cricket.

6. Tournament Format

• Total Matches: 45 league matches in Round Robin format.
• Elimination Stage: Top-performing teams advanced to knockout rounds.
• Finalists: Sachivalaya Super Kings vs. Sidcul Raising Star.

7. Theme & Entertainment

• Theme: Women Empowerment. Special efforts were made to involve women dignitaries and celebrate their achievements.
• Theme Song: “Cricket ka Gentleman” sung by Master Gorang and Parvesh Semwal, capturing the spirit of the league.

8. Final Match – A Clash of Titans

The grand finale between Sachivalaya Super Kings and Sidcul Raising Star was a thrilling display of cricketing excellence.

• Match Quality: Both teams demonstrated exceptional skills, determination, and sportsmanship.
• Result: Sachivalaya Super Kings emerged as champions after a fiercely fought contest.

9. Award Ceremony & Recognitions

The prize distribution ceremony was attended by an esteemed panel of guests:

• SMT SAVITA KAPOOR (Member of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly)
• Madam Ramindri Mandrawal (MD Uttarakhand State Co-operative Federation UCF)
• Smt KUSUM KANDWAL (Chairperson Uttarakhand State Commission for Women)
• Grewal Madam
• Sh. Sandeep Sir (Title Sponsor), Director Doon Defence Academy
• Sh. Badoni Sir (Chief Patron of DCDCU)
• Sh. Goswami Ji (Director, India’s Go)
• All DCDCU Members

In line with the Women Empowerment theme, most guests were women leaders and achievers from various sectors.

Individual Awards:

• Finals Fighter of the Match: Anup Chandola
• Man of the Match (Final): Hanish Gaur
• Best Bowler: Ravinder Bisht – 22 wickets in the tournament
• Best Batsman: Dr. Yogesh Uniyal – 413 runs, including five fifties
• Best Fielder: Shailendra Rauthan – 15 dismissals (wicketkeeper)
• Super Sixes Award: Arpit Rathi – 25 sixes
• Emerging Player: Nitin Soni
• Fair Play Trophy: Brave Warrior of Uttarakhand
• Man of the Tournament: Mohammed Iliyas – Awarded an Electric Scooter (Bonzor Shine Scooty) by Sh. Goswami Ji.

10. Special Mentions

Sh. Goswami Ji’s contribution to the league went beyond the man-of-the-series prize. His support, both financially and through ideas, has been invaluable to DCDCU. He remains a dedicated cricket enthusiast who consistently stands by the committee.

11. Acknowledgements

Special thanks from Rakesh Joshi (DCDCU Official) to his hardworking team for ensuring the success of DPL 3.0:

• Satender Singh Rawat (Secretary)
• Bhanu Rawat (Dr Vice President)
• Parvesh Semwal (Joint Secretary)
• Prashant Bisht (Treasurer)
• Lokesh Nautiyal (CEO of DPL 3.0)
• Arvind Bisht (Media In-Charge)
• Arun Rana
• Himanshu Kumar (Auditor)
• Vikas Rawat (Vice President)
• Sumit (Deputy Secretary)

Their dedication, planning, and execution ensured the tournament’s professional standards and smooth operations from start to finish.

12. Closing Statement

DPL 3.0 not only delivered thrilling cricket but also reinforced the importance of unity, fair play, and women empowerment in sports. With professional-level organization, live broadcasting, and enthusiastic participation from players, sponsors, and supporters, this edition set a new benchmark for departmental cricket in Uttarakhand.