India, Jan. 13 -- Success stories like those of Abhishek Kumar Dalhor and Irfan Umair highlight the Indian Street Premier League's (ISPL) growing role as a pathway between amateur cricket and the professional game, says league commissioner Suraj Samat.

Dalhor earned a stint as a net bowler with IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders last year on the back of his performances in the ISPL. Left-arm pacer Irfan Umair, who represented Falcon Risers Hyderabad, made his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai in 2025.

"Every sport today has an amateur side and a professional side. In cricket, which is almost a religion in our country, there is no amateur side as yet today," Samat told media. "We have just given an organised platform to this sector so that these...