IT DOESN’T matter who wins the second edition of Vidarbha Premier League which started on Monday. Bharat Rangers owner Rohit Agrawal wants Vidarbha players to make it to India squad or play IPL in maximum numbers. He wants players to shine in VPL which will help them in being recognised by the IPL franchises. “I want maximum cricketers from Vidarbha in Indian team and want Vidarbha to dominate the domestic circle. “I want to build a truly professional team.

 

Bharat Rangers will provide the best facilities to players. Ganesh Satish, Subroto Banerjee and other supporting staff is working hard with this Bharat Rangers squad for the second season,” said Agrawal. “Any player from Vidarbha, irrespective of which franchise he represents, Bharat Rangers will step forward to help him grow. Not only the 15 players representing Bharat Rangers but all the 100 cricketers representing different franchises are our players. I would be the happiest person if any of the 100 VPL cricketers make it to India team or IPL,” stated Agrawal. Agrawal said that the reason he brought a team in VPL is only because his love for the game. “Honestly, I would say I love playing cricket since childhood. My son (Manan) is playing since he was 12 and is in the squad. “We are a sports loving family. We believe sports is a major contributor to a developed nation.

 

Hence I always wanted to promote sports in some way or the other. People construct schools, hospitals. I decided to promote sports,” mentioned Agrawal, the Bharat Rangers franchise owner. Agrawal lauded Vidarbha Cricket Association’s efforts in starting VPL. “It is a great initiative of Vidarbha Cricket Association where around 100 upcoming cricketers are getting a platform to present their talent. Their performance is noticed at the higher level.” On difference between corporate world and stepping into the sports field, Agrawal said, “This is more of a corporate world than the things we do. It’s (team) like an industry and lot of elements are involved. It is a complete a team work and it is generating around 300 indirect jobs through this tournament. So VPL is really a great initiative of VCA. I think in future VPL will be at least a few percentage of IPL’s value.” (Contd from page 1) Agrawal said VPL will be a job provider. “It will be a great job provider.

 

This will also help our GDP grow and I think it is a full-fledged entertainment business. At the same time it is a great opportunity for cricketers to grow in their career,” Agrawal explained. On picking players during the auction, Agrawal said, “It was a truly professional auction from VCA where they invited renowned commentator Charu Sharma as an auctioneer. He conducted the auction superbly. We had a good team of coaches and mentors who made a strategy about how to go into the auction and how to bid for bowlers, batsmen, wicketkeepers and all-rounders. “We had several meetings ahead of auction and we tried to retain as many players we could. Those we could not be retained, we picked those players in auction,” he said. Bharat Rangers wanted to retain Nachiket Bhute but could not. “It was painful to release Nachiket. But it was not an easy decision. But when we sat together, we decided to buy him back and that’s why he got such a huge price, which he deserved. “I am satisfied with the team composition. Yes, we could not get Pratham Maheshwari but I am happy with the team,” said Agrawal.

 

Agrawal hopes that it will be a full house during the matches and viewership will rise. “This VPL is a stepping stone for cricketers to make it to IPL and Indian cricket team. Cricket is in blood of India. It sells like hot cakes. I am expecting a full house this time. The viewership will be at least five times higher than last season. Last time we got very less time to prepare due to war. This time all the teams are prepared and VCA gave us to play practice matches. We have done promotions also through advertisements and social media. This season will be much bigger. Nagpurians should support all the cricketers, motivate and cheer them and watch the match,” Agrawal confidently said. On team composition, Agrawal said they have two good all-rounders in Bhute and Manan Agrawal who is a fast bowler as well and will be of great help in the tournament.