Cricket in India isn’t just a sport — it’s an emotion that runs through the veins of over 1.4 billion people. From narrow lanes to massive stadiums, the crack of a bat and the roar of a crowd echo across the country every single day. According to a YouGov survey (2023), nearly 85% of Indians identify as cricket fans, and India alone contributes to almost 90% of global cricket viewership. The Indian Premier League (IPL) attracts more than 400 million viewers each season and has generated over ₹1 lakh crore (about €11 billion) for the Indian economy since its launch.
It’s no surprise that in almost every Indian household, there’s at least one child dreaming of wearing the blue jersey and making the nation proud. But the journey from gully cricket to the international arena is a long and difficult one. With over 36,000 registered players across 2,000 domestic clubs and 38 state-level teams, only a handful — about 15 to 20 players — eventually make it to represent India at the highest level. That’s less than 0.00005% of aspirants realizing their dream — a number that perfectly captures both the passion and the fierce competition surrounding cricket in India.
Today, legends like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Mithali Raj, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Smriti Mandhana have become iconic figures in the world of cricket. These legendary players have played a major role in making the sport globally popular. However, countless other talented cricketers never got the chance to turn their dreams into reality – some held back by financial hardships, others by personal responsibilities or various circumstances.
The introduction of the IPL and WPL has certainly opened up new avenues for young cricketers. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma have risen through the IPL to earn spots in the Indian men’s team, while the WPL has brought promising talents such as Kranti Gaud and Amanjot Kaur into the Indian women’s squad. These leagues have also offered financial security to many aspiring players. Yet, despite these opportunities, numerous skilled cricketers continue to await their golden chance to shine on cricket’s biggest platform. In this context, the Champions 11 Cricket League has become a significant platform for all those young cricketers who are striving to find their breakthrough opportunity.
What Is C11CL?
The Champions 11 Cricket League (C11CL), established in 2025, is India’s grassroots cricket league designed to discover and develop raw talent. It features a well-organized five-stage selection process, starting from open state-level trials and progressing to national championships. This league offers a transparent and merit-based platform where aspiring cricketers from all corners of India – whether male or female, and regardless of their background – can gain professional exposure, receive mentorship, and access potential sponsorship opportunities at various levels of the sport.
Trial Locations – Find Out Where & When You Can Participate
Champions 11 Cricket League is going pan-India with open trials being held across all five zones – North, South, East, West, and Central. In the North Zone, cricket trials will take place in states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and the national capital Delhi. In the East Zone, trials will be conducted in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Jharkhand. The West Zone will cover Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Goa. In the Central Zone, trials will be held in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, the South Zone will include Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Karnataka. This nationwide coverage ensures that talented cricketers from every corner of India get a fair chance to showcase their skills.
Champions 11 Cricket League – Selection Criteria
To participate in the Champions 11 cricket league, each player needs to pay a one-time registration fee of ₹1850. This fee grants access to the trials and the opportunity to progress through the league’s selection stages.
For Registration, click on this URL: c11cl.com/registration
Once C11CL registration is confirmed, players will participate in state-wise cricket trials held at the academy level, where they’ll have the opportunity to showcase their skills. Each participant will get to bat and bowl for 3 overs, allowing them to demonstrate their all-round capabilities. Certified coaches will carefully evaluate their performances. As a reward, the top 2 performers from each trial will receive a full refund of their registration fee.
Trial results will be announced within three days. Selected players will move on to the second – and most exciting – stage: the State-Level T20 Matches. This phase offers players an authentic competitive cricket experience and plays a crucial role in identifying talent ready to excel in real match situations.
The State-Level T20 Matches aren’t just ordinary games – they’re designed to challenge players beyond basic skills and assess their performance under pressure. Each state will host 4 competitive matches over 3 days, ensuring every shortlisted player from the trial stage has a chance to showcase their abilities.
The standout performers from the State-Level T20 Matches will be officially announced as entrants for the auction phase of the Champions 11 Cricket League. Each selected player will enter the auction with a base price of ₹5,000. Depending on their performance and the interest from team owners, bids can rise to a maximum of ₹2.5 lakh.
Between the state-level trials and the auction, National Camps will also be held for the players who have qualified through the state-level matches. These camps provide focused training led by experienced coaches and professionals, with a strong emphasis on fitness, technical improvements, and mental preparation. The purpose of the camp is to enhance the players’ overall cricketing abilities and give selectors a better opportunity to evaluate them.
After the conclusion of the state-level matches, National Camps, and the C11CL Auction, the C11CL journey reaches its peak at the National Cricket League, where the best selected players from each state compete on the national stage. This is not just a tournament, but a celebration of hard work, passion, and genuine cricketing talent. The top players from across India come together to form 8 elite teams, fiercely competing for the ultimate championship title. The tournament will be live-streamed on YouTube. Throughout the league, several national-level players and coaches will closely observe the matches and evaluate each player’s performance, offering a valuable opportunity for participants to display their skills and possibly secure a place in the national team.
Who Can Participate?
Any male or female candidate aged 14 or above who is passionate about cricket and wants to take their game to the next level is eligible to participate in C11CL. Players can take part as batters, bowlers, wicketkeepers, or all-rounders. The required skill level ranges from intermediate to advanced, with preference given to those who have club-level experience. There are no restrictions based on a player’s background, academy, or connections. Trials will be organised according to age groups, including Under-14, Under-16, Under-19, and senior-level categories.
Awards, Prizes & Benefits
The Player of the Series in the C11CL tournament will be rewarded with a sports bike. The top run-scorer will receive a prestigious Silver Bat, while the Best Bowler will be recognized with Silver Shoes. All matches will take place on international-standard grounds, giving players a unique chance to meet and interact with international players and professional coaches. During the tournament, the player who wins the Player of the Match award during a particular game will also receive a Man of the Match trophy, cash prizes, and a complete cricket kit. The championship-winning team will take home a grand prize of ₹25 lakh, while the runner-up will be awarded ₹11 lakh.
- Tournament Winner Team Prize: ₹25 Lakh
- Tournament Runner-Up Team Prize: ₹11 Lakh
- Player of the Series: Sports Bike
- Best Batter: Silver Bat
- Best Bowler: Silver Shoes
- Player of the Match Award: Trophy, Cricket kit, cash prizes
Mission & Vision
C11CL is a platform where aspiring cricketers, either male or female, get the chance to showcase their skills – guided and trained by experienced players and professional coaches who help shape their future. The league is committed to giving every talented player, no matter where they come from in India, an equal and fair opportunity to shine.
If cricket is your true passion and you aspire to build a career in India’s most beloved sport, now is your moment. Prepare with dedication, stay determined, and step onto the trial ground with confidence to showcase your talent.
Sometimes, just one powerful performance is all it takes to kickstart the journey you’ve always dreamed of – the one your parents have believed in. This could be the opportunity that transforms your life and puts you on the path to becoming the next big star in Indian cricket.