NEW DELHI: The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) is set to return for its third season here on Friday, with eight celebrity-owned franchises battling it out for a massive prize pool of Rs 5.92 crore in the month-long tennis-ball T10 tournament.

Scheduled to run until February 6, Season 3 will feature 44 matches and promises a blend of raw street talent, fearless cricket and high-octane entertainment.

The opening match will see defending champions Majhi Mumbai lock horns with Srinagar Ke Veer in a marquee clash. Fans will also be treated to a grand opening ceremony starting at 5 pm.

The eight teams in action this season include Majhi Mumbai, co-owned by Amitabh Bachchan, Tiigers of Kolkata owned by Sourav Ganguly, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, Srinagar Ke Veer led by Akshay Kumar, Chennai Singams backed by Suriya, Bengaluru Strikers owned by Hrithik Roshan and Falcon Risers Hyderabad co-owned by Ram Charan. The league has also welcomed two new teams in Delhi Superheros, owned by Salman Khan, and Ahmedabad Lions, backed by Ajay Devgn.

“ISPL Core Committee member Sachin Tendulkar will arrive at Friday’s opening ceremony in a Porsche 911, setting the tone for a memorable evening,” the organisers said in a statement.

Several key dignitaries, team owners and ISPL officials will be present for the ceremony, adding to the glamour surrounding the event.

Speaking ahead of the season, League Commissioner Suraj Samat said ISPL has grown rapidly by providing a professional and aspirational platform for grassroots talent. He added that Season 3 marks a major step forward in terms of scale, competition and fan engagement.

Along with the Rs 5.92 crore prize pool, the Most Valuable Player of the season will be awarded a brand-new Porsche 911. The league has already proven its impact, with players like Abhishek Kumar Dalhor earning opportunities with IPL franchises and Irfan Umair making his Ranji Trophy debut.

This season is expected to once again shine a light on emerging talents such as Saif Ali, Vijay Pawle, Jagannath Sarkar and Ankur Singh.

Fans can watch all the action live on Star Sports Khel and JioHotstar. Tickets are available online via BookMyShow starting at Rs 99, and offline at Gate No. 1 of Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat.

(With PTI Inputs)