Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu

On Saturday 15 August 2026, the Indian Association Luxembourg (IAL) held its traditional IAL Trophy 2026 cricket tournament to mark India’s 80th Independence Day at the Pierre Werner Cricket Ground in Walferdange.

The six-a-side social cricket tournament featured four teams: Swaraj Strikers, captained by Sujesh Singh; Tiranga Titans, captained by Vivek Mehta; Vande Warriors, captained by Abhinav Singh; and Azadi Aviators, captained by Parikshit Sharma. The fast-paced five-over tournament saw the teams compete through round-robin fixtures and ranking finals under specific rules, including five-step bowling limits and mandatory retirement for batsmen upon reaching 25 runs.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu, Sahil Goel, President of IAL, explained how the four teams were formed: “These teams have been put together from different clubs, so we have made four teams, a mix of players and different nationalities. It’s not just Indians. These players represent fifteen different clubs or teams.”

In the final, Swaraj Strikers defeated Vivek Mehta's Tiranga Titans by five runs to claim the IAL Trophy 2026 title. In the third-place play-off Vande Warriors secured a four-wicket victory over Azadi Aviators.

The organisers also presented individual honours to players for their performances during the tournament.

Individual honours:

- Player of the Series - Lakhan Raghuvanshi (Swaraj Strikers; 496 points)
- Top Batsman - Shravan Murali (Swaraj Strikers; 108 runs)
- Top Bowler - Vivek Mehta (Tiranga Titans; five wickets)

The sporting programme was complemented by activities marking India’s 80th Independence Day. Gopi RadhaKrishnan performed the Indian National Anthem, while Prash Chandrasekhar held a storytelling session about Indian freedom fighters for children attending the event. Indian food was also available for participants and families attending the event.

Arvind Pandey, Co-organiser of the IAL Trophy tournament, explained that the event is intended to bring together not only players but also families and friends: "We do a social, friendly event for anybody who wants to participate, and it's every year that we do it. So it's basically social, making sure that the people who come here, they sit together, have fun as a family and friends. There are a lot of kids and families. In the afternoon, we have the Indian National Anthem. People gather and we do the national anthem just to recognise Independence Day.”

IK