Bareilly: The sixth season of the Shri Ram Murti Memorial T-20 Prize Money Cricket Tournament began on a grand note in Bareilly on Friday, drawing enthusiastic participation from players and cricket enthusiasts alike.
Organized by the SRMS Trust, the tournament was inaugurated at the SRMS Cricket Stadium campus of Shri Ram Murti Smarak Engineering College. The opening ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Dr. Umesh Gautam, who unveiled the tournament trophy and encouraged players to display sportsmanship and dedication.
Marking the official start, Dr. Gautam ceremonially played a shot on a delivery bowled by Aditya Murti, Secretary of SRMS Trust. The opening match was played between SRMS Cricket Academy and Bajaj Textiles, Amroha, following the toss.
Addressing the gathering, the Mayor highlighted the life lessons that sports, particularly cricket, impart. He emphasized that both victory and defeat help build resilience, discipline, and humility, urging players to stay grounded and avoid arrogance while striving for success.
During the event, Dev Murti announced that the next season of the tournament would be upgraded from the T-20 format to a T-25 format, aiming to make the competition even more engaging.
Welcoming the guests, Aditya Murti also acknowledged the support of the Bareilly Cricket Association and its Secretary Sitaram Saxena. He shared that the prize money for this season has been significantly increased. The winning team will receive ₹2 lakh along with the trophy, while the runner-up will be awarded ₹1 lakh. Additionally, the Player of the Tournament will receive ₹11,000, and the Best Batsman and Best Bowler will each be awarded ₹5,100. Man of the Match winners in every game will also be honored with trophies.
Murti further highlighted SRMS Trust’s contribution to cricket development, noting that over 200 young players, including more than 25 girls, are currently training at the SRMS Cricket Academy under dedicated coaching staff. He also mentioned the successful organizing of three matches of the Cooch Behar Trophy at the venue and the development of a floodlit stadium in Unnao.
The event was anchored by Dr. Ashish Kumar and attended by several distinguished guests, including O. P. Kohli, Ankit Bhardwaj, Santosh Kumar Gupta, Rajeev Kumar Srivastava, Nikhil Agarwal, along with other officials,sportspersons, and organizing committee members.
With increased prize money, strong participation, and a vibrant sporting spirit, the tournament promises an exciting season ahead for cricket lovers in the region.
Reported by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena from Bareilly.
