Message from the Manager
Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon
Manager, City Montessori School
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Cricket as a Classroom for Global Citizenship
- Inaugural Ceremony Chief Guest: R. P. Singh – Former Indian Cricketer and current BCCI Selector, known for his stellar 2007 ICC T20 World Cup performance and 90 international wickets.
- Format: League-cum-Knockout — six thrilling matches daily across premier Lucknow grounds.
- Participants: Over 250 young athletes from 16 schools competing in a week-long T20 carnival from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Oman, Nepal, and top Indian schools.
- Legacy of Excellence: Supported by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association and hosted across world-class CMS grounds
- Spirit of Unity: Promoting the values of fairness, perseverance, and mutual respect through competitive play.
- SDG 4: Quality Education – ISCL 2025 integrates sports into holistic learning by fostering discipline, strategic thinking, and leadership—skills that extend beyond the classroom to prepare students for responsible global citizenship.
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By enabling equitable international student participation, fostering mutual respect, inclusion, and collaboration across diverse cultural and economic backgrounds through the shared spirit of cricket.
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions – Through fair play and intercultural collaboration, the league nurtures mutual respect, ethical conduct, and empathy—core values that strengthen social harmony and contribute to a more peaceful and just world.
Our Inspiration
From Dream to Legacy: Honouring the Architect of International School Cricket
Dr Jagdish Gandhi
Founder-Manager, City Montessori School
(10 November 1934 - 22 January 2024)
“A healthy body is home to a healthy mind; therefore, sports and games are as important as education for the children.”
The ISCL was conceptualised by our school’s revered Founder-Manager, a spiritual giant, humble servant of humanity, and promoter of religious harmony with the central thought—transforming the cricket pitch into a powerful platform for nurturing global citizenship and world unity.
Participating Teams
International Contingent
ISCL 2025 proudly welcomes six distinguished international school teams, each representing their nation’s finest youth cricket talent:
From Australia:
- Australians Joyes (Combined School Sports Federation of Australia): Energetic, dynamic, and full of joy — the Australians Joyes embody the spirit of fair play and cricketing excellence
From Africa:
- Overberg Eagles (Overberg Eagles Combined School of South Africa): Soaring high with confidence and precision, the Overberg Eagles bring international flair and fearless play
From South Asia:
- RCA Super Stars (RCA Schools of Cricket, Sri Lanka): Shining bright with talent and skill, the Super Stars of RCA are ready to light up the tournament with their brilliance
- Dhanhadhi Dreamers (SPA, Nepal): Guided by dreams and driven by passion, the Dhanhadhi Dreamers inspire us with their spirit and sportsmanship
- DAV Rhinos (DAV, Kathmandu, Nepal): Mighty and resilient, the DAV Rhinos charge ahead with force and focus — unstoppable on their path to glory
- Global Mighty (G.B. School, Nepal): With strength that knows no boundaries, Global Mighty take the field to prove that teamwork makes them truly mighty
Each international contingent brings unique playing styles, cultural perspectives, and the invaluable spirit of global sporting camaraderie that defines ISCL’s essence.
Indian Powerhouses
Ten exceptional Indian schools represent the subcontinent’s diverse cricketing landscape:
- Aster Knights (Aster Public School, Noida): Gallant and disciplined, the Aster Knights charge into the arena with valour and strategy — true warriors of the game
- DAV Savera Smashers (DAV School, Bihar): Rising with the dawn, the Savera Smashers bring the brightness of skill and energy to every match they play
- CMS Stallions (City Montessori School): Powerful, graceful, and unstoppable — the CMS Stallions gallop towards victory with unity and passion
- Bal Bhavan Lions (Bal Bhavan Public School, Delhi): Roaring with confidence and courage, the Lions of Bal Bhavan dominate the field with their fearless play
- SGVP Gladiators (SGVP, Ahmedabad): With unwavering strength and determination, the SGVP Gladiators fight every battle with pride and purpose
- Hyderabadi Nawabs (Abhyasa International School, Hyderabad): Grace, skill, and royal flair — the Hyderabadi Nawabs bring elegance and excellence to the cricketing field
- SCIS Super Giants (City International School, Kolkata): Towering in talent and teamwork, the Super Giants of SCIS aim high and play with giant-sized passion
- MAMS Tigers (MAMS, Uttarakhand): Ferocious and fearless, the MAMS Tigers are ready to pounce at every opportunity to seize victory
- DAV Super Kings (DAV School, Amritsar): Majestic in their play and supreme in their confidence, the Super Kings reign with unmatched skill and teamwork
- South Zone Titans (Vels Vidyalaya, Tamil Nadu) – Strong, steady, and unstoppable — the Titans from the South stand tall as symbols of power and perseverance
These institutions represent India’s finest school cricket programmes, combining academic excellence with sporting achievement. Many have produced players who’ve progressed to state and national-level competitions, validating the effectiveness of their sports facilities. The diversity of representation, from metropolitan centres to tier-two cities, reflects ISCL’s commitment to democratising opportunities and celebrating talent regardless of geographical location.
Seven Years of Excellence: The ISCL Journey
A Legacy Written in Runs and Resolve
Since its first edition in 2011, ISCL has evolved into a premier international school cricket platform. Alumni like Nicholas Pooran (West Indies), Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan), and CMS alumnus Yuvraj Singh, who debuted in the 2023 Ranji Trophy, exemplify how this league shapes tomorrow’s champions. Each edition adds new stories of sportsmanship, strategy, and solidarity that inspire students across nations.
ISCL STARS, now Key Players in Cricket Tournaments Worldwide
Abhishek Sharma
Played Senior Indian Team
Nicholas Pooran
Played Senior West Indies Team
Azmatullah Omarzai
Played Senior Afghanistan Team
Naveen Ul Haq
Played Senior Afghanistan Team
Anuj Rawat
Played Rajasthan Royal Team & Ranji Trophy Player, Delhi Team
Himanshu Rana
Ranji Trophy Played Haryana Team & Winner Under 19 World Cup Team member
Sahab Yuvraj Singh
Played Ranji Trophy, Indian Railways Team Ex-Student, CMS, Lucknow
Vipul Krishna
Played Ranji Trophy, Bihar Team Net Bowled, Mumbai Indian, IPL-2022 Ex-Student, CMS, Lucknow
Mayank Rawat
Played under 19 India Team
Mohammed Aman
Captain under 19 India Team
Every boundary hit and wicket taken echoes a shared belief — that cricket is more than a sport; it’s a movement that unites, uplifts, and inspires future generations.
Inaugural Ceremony & Chief Guest
Where a Legend Inspires the Next Generation
R. P. Singh
Former Indian Cricketer and Member, BCCI Men’s National Selection Committee (Central Zone); Former Member, BCCI Cricket Advisory Committee
The inaugural ceremony of ISCL 2025, held on 13th December 2025, promises grandeur and inspiration. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, former Indian pacer R. P. Singh brings immense pride. His iconic 2007 T20 World Cup performance and ongoing role as a BCCI National Selector symbolise perseverance, integrity, and excellence — values ISCL seeks to instil in every young cricketer.
Message from the Convenor
Mrs Abha Anant
Convenor of ISCL 2025 and Principal, CMS Kanpur Road Campus
CMS Kanpur Road Campus pioneered the idea of a School IPL. The phenomenal success of the six previous editions of this sports gala and the increasing participation from countries worldwide have transformed this global platform into a vehicle of empowerment by the promotion of healthy competition and a cradle for nurturing future international stars of cricket.
Tournament Format & Key Features
The 7th ISCL 2025 is structured as a T20 League cum Knockout tournament, ensuring maximum opportunity and high-stakes excitement. The 16 participating teams will be divided into four pools, with each team playing three league matches. The topper from each pool will advance to the knockout semi-finals.
All matches will follow the ISCL-2025 Standard Playing Conditions for Twenty20 matches, which include modern, fast-paced rules:
- Impact Player: One substitute player per team is allowed to play an active role with the bat or ball.
- Free Hit: Every “No Ball” (of any kind) will result in a Free Hit for the batsman.
- Super Over: In the event of a tied match, a Super Over will be played to determine the winner.
- Awards: We believe in recognising excellence at every level. Awards will be presented for Man of the Match (for every match), Man of the Series, Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder, and Maximum Sixes.
Schedule at a Glance
- Day 1 (13th December): Team Arrivals, Registration (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM), Press Conference, and the Grand Inaugural Ceremony (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM). The tournament kicks off with the Inaugural Match under lights (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM).
- Days 2-5 (14th – 17th December): League Matches. Teams will compete in three daily time slots (9:30 AM, 2:00 PM, and 6:00 PM) across our three designated grounds.
- Day 6 (18th December): Semi-Finals. The top teams from each pool will battle for a place in the final.
- Day 7 (19th December): The Grand Final Match (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM) on the CMS Ground, followed by the Prize Distribution Ceremony and Farewell Dinner.