Former India cricketer and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MP Gautam Gambhir has announced to host a T20 cricket tournament similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in East Delhi. 

Gambhir on Friday (September 10) announced the inauguration of the revamped archery-cum-cricket stadium at DDA Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi.

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal inaugurated the stadium virtually. The entire project cost around Rs 9.25 crore, and the ground will host both cricket and archery.  

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"I PROMISE TO DELIVER! World-Class Stadium ready at Yamuna Sports Complex! East Delhi Cricket League to start very soon! #DelhiNeedsHonesty," Gambhir tweeted with the latest pictures.

Gambhir said East Delhi Premier League will be held in the second week of November this year in which teams from 10 constituencies in east Delhi will participate. He added that players from the age group of 17 to 36 years will be playing in the tournament.

All the matches of the tournament will be played at the Yamuna Sports Complex. The ex-cricketer said auctions for the team will be held soon. “Every team will be auctioned with a fixed base price. Money received from sponsors will be used to provide facilities to the players in the team."

Gambhir said the purpose of the tournament is to give people from the region an opportunity to play cricket. 

The facilities in the stadium have matched the Ranji Trophy standards. It has two dressing rooms, high mast lights for night cricket, six pitches, practice pitches, digital scoreboard display, and canopy.

Meanwhile, Delhi L-G congratulated the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for the project and said many facilities at DDA sports complexes have been upgraded in the last two years, including relaying of tennis, basketball, and outdoor badminton courts.

DDA vice-chairman Anurag Jain said Master Plan Delhi 2041 is expected to be approved by December 2021. This will be the first time that the Master Plan of Delhi will be approved in time. Besides, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) policy was approved by DDA and redevelopment of the New Delhi Railway Station will be the first project under the policy, he said.

(With PTI inputs)