Tollywood Pro League launched: Cinema and cricket unite in Hyderabad

The EBG Group has launched the Tollywood Pro League (TPL), a six-team franchise-based cricket and entertainment league exclusively for the Telugu film fraternity. The unveiling at Hyderabad International Convention Centre saw the presence of cricket legends Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina, alongside film personalities Dino Morea, Ashish Vidyarthi and Murali Sharma.

Hyderabad: EBG Group, a fast-growing Indian conglomerate, on Sunday announced the launch of the Tollywood Pro League (TPL)—a premium cricket and entertainment league created exclusively for the Telugu film fraternity.

The league was formally unveiled at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) by veteran film producer Dil Raju, who will also serve as the Honorary Chairman of Tollywood Pro League.

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The launch event brought together cinema and cricket on one platform, in a structured and professionally governed league format. Legendary Indian cricketers Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina attended the inauguration as chief guests, lending their support to the initiative.

The ceremony was also attended by film personalities Dino Morea, Ashish Vidyarthi and Murali Sharma.

The Tollywood Pro League is planned as a six-team, franchise-based league with two seasons annually, combining competitive cricket with fan zones, music, community engagement and high-quality digital content. Featuring celebrities as players and leading producers as team owners, TPL is envisioned to evolve into a marquee sports-entertainment property with strong national visibility.

Reinforcing its social commitment, a portion of the league’s proceeds will be directed towards welfare initiatives for the film fraternity.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Irfan Khan, Founder and Chairman, EBG Group, said, “The Tollywood Pro League is not just a cricket tournament; it is a cultural movement built on dignity, structure and long-term vision. With TPL, our intent is to create a world-class platform that celebrates the Telugu film fraternity, strengthens unity within the industry and delivers a premium sports and entertainment experience for fans across the country. A defining pillar of the league is Alai Balai—an inclusion-led movement within TPL that ensures representation across every craft of the Telugu film industry.”

Dil Raju, Honorary Chairman, Tollywood Pro League, said, “TPL is a meaningful initiative that brings our industry together on a common platform. It celebrates every contributor to cinema and creates a sense of pride and unity within the Telugu film fraternity. I am honoured to be associated with a league that combines sport, culture and purpose.”