Exclusive: Record-breaking Sridam Paul wants to take Tripura to the next level; captain Murasingh demands for Tripura Premier League
After his record-breaking 150, Tripura batter Sridam Paul shared how reaching the next level would give them the needed exposure, while Manisankar Murasingh demanded a Tripura Premier League.
Last Updated: 10.48 PM, Jan 08, 2026
On the final day of the group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, what happened for Tripura's young batter Sridam Paul will forever be remembered in the history of Tripura cricket. 150 off 134 deliveries against the recently crowned Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament champion, Jharkhand, to hand them a memorable 197-run win - everything went nearly perfect for Sridam.
Though Tripura were able to get some memorable wins this season in white-ball cricket, including a famous win over Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament, they couldn't finish where they wished to end. However, this kind of win will suddenly give them the confidence and exposure to emerge as one of the strongest sides in Indian domestic cricket.
After their win against Jharkhand on Thursday, star batter Sridam Paul and Tripura’s all-time great and current captain, Manisankar Murasingh, shared their thoughts exclusively with OTTPlay.
“Surreal feeling”
Although this season has been a run-fest for the batters in Indian domestic cricket, it's not every day that you score 150 in India's premier white-ball tournament. And for Sridam, to become the first ever from his state to achieve that fate has been surreal for him.
“It is a surreal feeling for me. I am delighted with the way we finished the tournament,” Sridam told OTTplay.
“The situation was really tough, and I really wanted to do well for the team. I had already scored three 50s in the tournament, and I was really determined to make it big. I'm pretty happy to convert my hundred into a bigger one and help the team score beyond 300,” the 23-year-old batter added.
Although Sridam had started the tournament pretty well, he had a few low scores coming to this match. Moreover over the team was missing someone like Hanuma Vihari, who had joined them before the season. So Sridam knew that he had to take extra responsibility in this game.
“Yes, we did not have someone like Hanuma, and we did not have a great start to the innings as well. We lost a few wickets, and that is why I wanted to take some time and then cash in if I could make the innings bigger,” Sridam expressed.
“We need to reach the next level”
Despite doing a few good things in the last few years in domestic cricket, Tripura players never get the exposure or the appreciation they deserve. Sridam feels that a big innings like this, though, will help him with some added confidence, but for Tripura or him to get exposure, they need to reach the next level as a team.
“For players like me to get some exposure, we definitely need to reach the next level of tournaments. Otherwise, these scores will never matter. I always feel that when the team does well, individuals also get rewarded for that. But surely, these innings will give me confidence.”
“Nowadays, 100s and 150s have become a regular thing in Indian domestic cricket. So I need to keep doing great things for Tripura and help them reach the next level,” he shared.
“I have someone like Murasingh to look up to”
Although there have not been any international stars from Tripura, Manisankar Murasingh has paved the way for the future generation of Tripura cricket. Despite doing well in domestic cricket, Murasingh never got the recognition or the reward his stats deserve.
For youngsters like Sridam, Murasingh is like an idol. They know how much hard work they will have to do to reach his level and take the name of Tripura Cricket forward.
“When I had joined the senior team, Mura da had already played like 70 odd first-class games. We all know how good he has been in domestic cricket and how good he has been for Tripura Cricket. He is like an idol for all of us, and every cricketer from Tripura looks up to him. He always tries to guide us for the betterment of Tripura cricket,” Sriadm stated.
And for Murasingh, the goal still remains the same: do whatever it takes for the state and do it with pride. But for Tripura to have their next Murasingh or even a better player, they need grooming, support, and encouragement. However, Murasingh wants to add one more thing to it - the Tripura Premier League.
Murasingh demands for Tripura Premier League
Under his captaincy, the Tripura cricket team has done really well in the last few seasons, but as per Murasingh, this is not enough. He feels that unless and until you qualify for the next level, it will not be good enough to knock on the doors of the national selectors.
Moreover, to shape the future of Tripura cricket and have more bench strength, Murasingh wants the Tripura Premier League to happen, and to happen very quickly.
“Look, till the day I am here with the team, I will always try to support the youngsters who are good, who can play cricket at the highest level. I feel like that is why we have been able to beat teams like Delhi, Rajasthan, and now Jharkhand. But only beating big teams will not work. We need to do some outstanding things like what Jammu and Kashmir have done in recent years. We need to qualify for the next level,” Murasingh told OTTplay.
And when it comes to giving exposure to young cricketers, Murasingh feels that more and more players from his state now need to brush shoulders with some bigger names of Indian cricket. For that, tournaments like IPL open the door for each and every one.
But even with some great numbers, Murasingh cannot get a bid for IPL teams. How come younger generations can attract good bids from IPL franchises?
Tripura Premier League is the answer.
“Yeah, you will always have players from states like Mumbai, Delhi, and a few in the IPL because they always do well in domestic cricket. However, you will always see players from other states in the Indian Premier League despite their team not doing so great. That is where their state league T20 tournaments come in handy because the scouts and the franchises get to see those players months before the auction, and they ask them for trials.”
“And if you do well in those trials, it becomes easier for you to get a team. That is why I will urge the Tripura Cricket Association to start the Tripura Premier League as soon as possible. Make it with five teams. We have enough players to have a good five-team tournament. I feel like this will give the younger players who want to do well a great platform to showcase their talent,” Murasingh concluded.