Delhi [India], March 28 (ANI): Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has advocated for recognising tennis-ball cricket talent, emphasising that skill and innovation from grassroots deserve equal opportunities on bigger platforms like the Beyond Reach Premier League (BRPL).

The first season of the tennis-ball league, BRPL, is set to be held from September 19 to October 10 this year, welcoming aspiring and semi-professional cricketers aged 18-40, from 28 states and 8 Union Territories across India.

Reflecting on his own journey, Akash Chopra said he did not experience gully or tennis-ball cricket, having entered structured cricket at a very young age, according to a release.

'Actually, I did not play tennis ball cricket. I started with a season ball. I joined a cricket club at the age of 9. So I was young, at the age where I should be playing tennis cricket or gully cricket, but I did not get to play and we were playing with the leather ball,' said Aakash Chopra.

Highlighting the distinct skill set of tennis-ball cricket, Aakash Chopra stressed that the format produces exceptional and often underrated talent.

'These are two different balls, and why should talent be hostage to the leather ball? When I look back now, after seeing a lot of tennis-ball cricket across the country, the quality is outstanding -- the stroke-making, the bowling, especially variations like leg cutters and off cutters,' he added.

The former Indian cricketer further underlined that the perception around tennis-ball cricket needs to evolve, as it demands a different yet equally valuable skill set.

'If we think that if you don't play with the leather ball, you don't have a future, that's not right. It is still a sport played with a bat and ball -- just a different skill set, and one that deserves recognition,' Aakash Chopra said. (ANI)