Sikkim’s domestic cricket season begins with the Lt Vinod Pradhan Memorial Trophy
The tournament’s running trophy, which weighs 1 kg and is made of silver with 6 grams of gold, has been generously sponsored by the family of Late Vinod Pradhan as a tribute to his legacy.
SPORTS
The highly anticipated 2025 Lt Vinod Pradhan Memorial Trophy is set to kick off Sikkim’s domestic cricket season on February 5. The prestigious T20 tournament, organized by the Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA), will be held from February 5 to February 15, with eight top-tier men’s A Division teams battling it out for the title.
This year marks the second edition of the tournament, following the success of the inaugural 2024 edition, which saw Alpine Sporting Club claim the championship. The teams will be divided into two groups, with each group consisting of four teams. They will compete in a round-robin format, playing against the other three teams in their respective groups, with a total of 12 group-stage matches. The top two teams from each group will then move on to the knockout stage, which will feature two semi-finals and a final.
The eight participating teams have been divided into Group-A and Group-B. Group-A includes Alpine Sporting Club, Black Eagles (SAP), Yuksom Capitals, and Avengers Cricket Club, while Group-B consists of Pakyong XI, Cricket Association of Tathangchen, Royal North Brothers, and Irises Cricket Club. Over the course of 11 days, a total of 15 exciting matches will take place, showcasing the best of Sikkim’s cricket talent.
The tournament is named in honor of Late Vinod Pradhan, a key figure in Sikkim cricket. Pradhan served as the President of SICA from 1994 to 1995 until his untimely death in 2002. Under his leadership, Sikkim hosted its first-ever national tournaments, the Vijay Merchant Trophy and the Cooch Behar Trophy, in the 1996-97 season, marking the state’s formal entry into the national cricketing arena.
The tournament’s running trophy, which weighs 1 kg and is made of silver with 6 grams of gold, has been generously sponsored by the family of Late Vinod Pradhan as a tribute to his legacy.
Tika Subba, President of SICA, expressed his excitement about the tournament, saying, “The Lt Vinod Pradhan Memorial Trophy is a tribute to a leader who played a pivotal role in shaping Sikkim’s cricketing journey. His contributions laid the foundation for the growth of cricket in the state, and through this tournament, we honor his vision while providing a competitive platform for our players to excel.”
Karma Jigme Namgyal, Tournament Chairman and Councillor of the Apex Council, SICA, also shared his enthusiasm and said , “We are excited for the second edition of this prestigious tournament. The top eight teams will showcase the best of Sikkim’s cricketing talent, and we are confident that the competition will be intense and of high quality.”