Kumar Sangakkara to mentor young cricketers from Assam in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: Budding cricketers from the Northeast state of Assam are in for a treat as they gear up to receive invaluable guidance from Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara.

The former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter, is slated to conduct a mentoring session for a select group of under-16 and under-19 cricketers from Assam in Guwahati on May 16.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Rajasthan Royals, aims to nurture young talent and inspire the next generation of cricketing stars from Assam.

The decision to bring Sangakkara on board stems from the remarkable growth witnessed in players like Riyan Parag from Assam.

Rajasthan Royals CEO, Jake Lush McCrum, expressed the franchise's commitment to fostering similar success stories from the region.

“We are keen on Assam producing more such players,” McCrum stated during his visit to Guwahati.

“Conducting mentorship sessions with Kumar Sangakkara will provide young cricketers with a unique opportunity to learn from the best and develop their skills. It will be immensely beneficial for their growth and progress in the sport.”

Guwahati, Rajasthan Royal’s second home, is set to host two Indian Premier League (IPL) matches on May 15 against Punjab Kings and May 19 against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Assam: Ticket sale for RR vs Punjab Kings match in Guwahati now live on BookMyShow

After the successful conduct of two matches during the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year in Guwahati, the city, referred to as the gateway to the Northeast is set to welcome back IPL action in May this year when the Rajasthan Royals play two home matches at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) stadium.

The inaugural IPL champions, led by Sanju Samson, will be seen hosting Punjab Kings on May 15 and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 19. Given the palpable excitement and anticipation in the Northeastern region, the franchise on Thursday (April 18) announced that tickets for their first home match in Guwahati against Punjab Kings have now gone live on BookMyShow, the official ticketing partner of the team.

Fans who had registered for ‘Early Access’ to tickets will be able to make their purchase by visiting BookMyShow’s app or website, from 4 pm on Thursday, April (18) to 4 pm on Friday, April (19). Meanwhile, tickets for the first match against Punjab Kings will be available to general fans post 4 pm on Friday.

With the Rajasthan Royals making a much-anticipated return to the Northeast in May, fans will be able to secure their tickets from BookMyShow with the lowest online ticket starting from Rs 1,000.

To provide students with the chance to also experience their favourite Rajasthan Royals stars including Guwahati’s own Riyan Parag, the franchise will also be launching Rs 500 tickets which will be available to purchase at the box office at a later date and will be communicated closer to the matches.

Meanwhile, the franchise has also announced that fans who purchase tickets to the Punjab Kings match will also get the first access to purchase tickets for the Rajasthan Royals’ match against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 19, which will be made available at a later date.

Speaking about the IPL matches in Guwahati, the Chairperson of Rajasthan Royals, Ranjit Barthakur, said, “It was a great experience last season with the IPL coming to the Northeast for the first time. The fans showed enormous warmth and love for our Royals and we are thankful to the people of Assam for welcoming back the team again this season to their home.”

“The team has felt their support not just during the season, but also around the year. We believe that the circle of cricket is a circle of great sportsmanship and affection, which our team is hoping to display when they take the field in May,” he added.

On the impact of the return of IPL to the region, Barthakur said, “We are hopeful that the IPL coming back to the Northeast will help in revolutionizing the sporting ecosystem and promote an athletic and active lifestyle amongst the population. We believe that the entire Northeast and Assam itself has the potential to be one of the leaders in the sporting world and the return of the IPL will accelerate that transformation.”