Entertainers Cricket League 2024 Kicks Off with Thrilling Wins as Haryanvi Hunters Edge Bangalore Bashers and Mumbai Disruptors Dominate

New Delhi.The inaugural edition of the Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) 2024, India’s first social media superstars-driven T10 cricket league, began with two exhilarating matches, followed by a dazzling opening ceremony that blended cricket and entertainment in an unforgettable fashion. The Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi was filled with enthusiastic fans eager to witness their favorite social media stars, creating an electric atmosphere for the league's first day.

The day kicked off with the Bangalore Bashers, captained by the dynamic Fukra Insaan (Abhishek Malhan), taking on the formidable Haryanvi Hunters, led by the ever-charismatic Elvish Yadav.

Bangalore Bashers won the toss and opted to bat first, putting up a competitive total of 178 for the loss of seven wickets. Tanush Sethi stood out with a stellar knock of 74 off just 23 balls, while Mahinder Tanwar of the Haryanvi Hunters impressed with figures of 2/21. The Hunters had a shaky start, with captain Elvish Yadav dismissed early after scoring six of the first ball of the inning. However, a strong performance by Keshav Chaudhary (58 off 20 balls) and Anujj Chaudhary (34 off 11 balls) kept the Hunters in the game. Despite a remarkable hat-trick in the eight over from Gagan Sangwan of Bangalore Bashers, Ribbuu Mehra guided the Hunters to a nail-biting 2-wicket victory with a boundary in the final over. Keshav Chaudhary aka Kutkut was awarded Man of the match for his stellar performance.

In the second match of the day, Munawar Faruqui’s Mumbai Disruptors clashed with Anurag Dwivedi’s Lucknow Lions. After winning the toss, Lucknow Lions chose to bowl first. Mumbai Disruptors set a challenging target of 160, with standout performances from Mudasar Bhat (65 off 21 balls) and Samarath Jurel (33 off 11). Ubaid Khan was the star bowler for the Lucknow Lions, taking 2 wickets for just 13 runs.

In response, Lucknow Lions were all out for 109 in 9 overs. Apoorva Tiwari top-scored with 24 runs off 12 balls, but the team struggled against the bowling attack led by Shray Rai Tiwari, who took 4 wickets for 21 runs, and Mudasar Bhatt, who claimed 3 wickets for 12 runs. Mumbai Disruptors triumphed by 50 runs, with Mudasar Bhatt named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.

Following the exhilarating matches, the spotlight shifted to the much-anticipated Opening Ceremony, headlined by a spectacular performance from Romanian singer and Bollywood actress Lulia Vantur. She mesmerized the audience with her captivating stage presence and soulful renditions of popular Bollywood songs, creating the perfect finale to a day of high-octane cricket and entertainment.

Commenting on the start of the ECL 2024, Anil Kumar, Founder of the Entertainers Cricket League, said, "Today has been a dream start for ECL 2024. The opening ceremony was a spectacle in itself, and the performances from both Navraj Hans and Lulia Vantur truly set the stage for what was an incredible day of cricket. Seeing a packed stadium full of excited fans cheering for their favorite influencers was a sight to behold, and it really shows the power of this unique blend of cricket and entertainment. The matches today were full of excitement, and it's amazing to see the level of talent and passion displayed by our players. This is just the beginning, and we are excited for what lies ahead in this tournament."