ITANAGAR : Persistent morning rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of young cricketers as the Arunachal Little Master One Day Championship 2026 commenced in Itanagar on Friday, with ICC Rising Stars registering a five-wicket victory over AIOC Junior in the opening league match.
The match, delayed for a few hours due to rain, began after 10 am once the weather cleared, drawing enthusiastic participation from players, officials and spectators.
The championship was inaugurated by Tawang District Cricket Association Honorary Secretary Adv Sonam Tenzing in the presence of senior journalist Manoj Singh, the guest of honour. The ceremony began with the National Anthem.
Addressing the gathering, Adv Sonam Tenzing lauded the efforts of Itanagar Cricket Club (ICC) in promoting grassroots cricket under the leadership of its president and Tournament Director Suraj Tayam. He urged the young players to make the most of the opportunity and announced a cash sponsorship of ₹5,000 each for the Best Team and Man of the Series awards to encourage budding cricketers.
He also appreciated the AIOC Management Committee, particularly coach-cum-mentor and organising secretary Lalit Deva, for providing the venue free of cost and supporting the championship. Describing the tournament as a commendable initiative, he encouraged participants to utilise the facilities, apply the skills acquired through training and uphold the true spirit of the game.
Speaking on the occasion, Tournament Director and ICC President Suraj Tayam thanked the AIOC Management Committee for its support and felicitated Lalit Deva for his sustained contribution to grassroots sports and his commitment to nurturing young cricketers across different age groups.
He urged participants to dream big, work hard and uphold discipline, unity and sportsmanship while striving to excel both on and off the field.
In the opening match, ICC Rising Stars won the toss and elected to field, a decision that paid rich dividends.
Batting first, AIOC Junior were bowled out for 114 in 33.1 overs. Tarh Yain top-scored with 22 off 41 balls, while Aryan Parbat contributed 20 and Gede Boje added 17. Debasish Roy starred with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 17 runs, while Sushant Ray returned impressive figures of 2 for 9 in five overs.
Chasing 115, ICC Rising Stars reached the target at 115 for 5 in 34.4 overs to seal a comfortable five-wicket win.
Sushant Ray was adjudged Player of the Match for his impressive all-round performance, while Debasish Roy’s incisive bowling laid the foundation for the team’s winning start to the tournament.
