PULWAMA — The second edition of the Royal Premier League (RPL) reached its finale on Friday evening, drawing thousands of cricket enthusiasts to Pulwama as Sultan Warriors Baramulla and Royal Goodwill Cricket Club faced each other in the day-night final at the Sports Stadium Pulwama.
The two teams had also featured in the tournament’s opening match, making their appearance in the final a notable culmination of the league.
According to news agency KNO, the huge turnout for the final led to heavy movement of vehicles towards the stadium, causing traffic congestion at several locations in Pulwama town.
Long queues of vehicles were witnessed at various points as spectators from Pulwama and other parts of Kashmir travelled to the venue.
The large gathering highlighted the growing popularity of local cricket tournaments in Kashmir, particularly night cricket, among young people and sports enthusiasts.
The RPL Season 2 began in August and featured 10 teams competing in a 20-over leather-ball format at the Sports Stadium Pulwama. The tournament brought together players from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and provided local cricketers with an opportunity to compete in what organisers described as a professionally organised sporting environment.
The tournament was organised by Irfan Sarkar, who has been associated with the league since its inception. The second edition attracted strong public interest from its opening game, with large crowds attending matches at the stadium.
Friday’s final drew an even larger gathering, with spectators filling the stadium and surrounding areas while supporters cheered for the two teams.
The concentration of spectators and vehicles around the venue also posed a challenge for traffic management, with movement slowing considerably at several points in the town.
Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, who has been associated with the Royal Premier League, said the response to the event reflected the enthusiasm and potential of the region’s youth.
“Tonight, Pulwama chose hope over headlines. Forty thousand-plus hearts beating as one under the lights—not for politics, not for conflict, but for cricket. This is what healing looks like,” Para said.
He said the league represented a youth-led effort to create opportunities through sport.
“What the government should be doing, our youth are doing themselves. Built by the youth, for the youth and of the youth,” Para said.
Para also described the event as a reflection of sport’s ability to bring people together, saying the boundaries and sixes during the tournament represented hope and youthful energy.
Irfan Sarkar described the initiative as more than a cricket match and said the RPL could prove to be “game-changing for Pulwama.”
The league has also provided a platform for established and emerging cricketers to play alongside each other. Several recognised players from Jammu and Kashmir have participated in the tournament, adding to its appeal among spectators.
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