Srinagar, July 3: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Friday hosted the grand inaugural ceremony of the All-India Inter-NIT Faculty & Staff Cricket Tournament (Men) 2026, marking the beginning of a major national sporting event bringing together 24 teams from NITs across India.

 

The tournament is being hosted by NIT Srinagar for 1st time and is scheduled from July 4 to July 8, 2026 to promote sportsmanship, teamwork, wellness, and inter-institutional camaraderie among faculty and staff members of India’s premier technical institutes. The matches will be played at eight venues across Srinagar.

 

The inaugural ceremony, held at the Institute’s Common Hall, began with the National Anthem and National Song.

 

The event is being sponsored by DRS IT Consultancy, NorthCut Enterprises, Aisha Enterprises, Bombay Sports, Chemi Health, Speedway Printers, G Active, K.S. Enterprises, M/S Sharp, Ahmad Scientific, Alfa Office, Nescafé, New S5 Enterprise, IGENE, FOSROC, Lakshmi Chand, JK Bats, J&K Bank, Canara Bank, ICICI Bank, HIECO, JK Cement, Gasha Canteen, Ali Mohammad P&D, and Orbit Contractors P&D.

 

In his message, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, highlighted the significance of sports in building stronger institutional relationships. He said the tournament provides a unique platform where participants can connect, collaborate, and celebrate collective progress.

 

“Sports transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. Events like these strengthen fraternity and create lasting relationships among institutions. We hope all participants enjoy both the competition and the hospitality of Kashmir,” he said.

In-charge Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Roohie Naaz Mir, formally inaugurated the tournament and declared it open.

 

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Roohie expressed pride in hosting the prestigious national event and said the tournament signifies much more than just competition; it stands as a symbol of national integration, friendship, and shared excellence.

 

She further said that NIT Srinagar remains committed to holistic development by promoting academic excellence alongside sports and extracurricular activities.

 

“We are honoured to host faculty and staff members from 24 NITs across the country. This tournament is a celebration of unity, healthy competition, and mutual learning. I encourage every participant to play with passion, integrity, and the true spirit of sportsmanship,” Prof. Roohie added.

 

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Manoj Kumar, Faculty In-Charge of the Sports Activity Centre (SAS), welcomed all dignitaries, players, officials, and representatives from participating NITs.

 

He emphasized that sports play a vital role in fostering physical well-being, mental resilience, discipline, and stronger professional bonds.

 

Registrar NIT Srinagar, Prof. Atikur Rehman, said the tournament reflects the spirit of unity and collaboration that defines the NIT system. He noted that sporting events serve as powerful platforms for building leadership, mutual respect, and institutional cooperation beyond academic boundaries.

 

“Sports teach us discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and resilience—qualities that are equally essential in professional and academic life. We are proud to host this prestigious event and welcome all participants to NIT Srinagar,” he said.

 

Dean Faculty Welfare, Prof. Manzoor Ahmad Ahanger emphasized that physical activity and sports are essential for maintaining a healthy balance in professional life.

 

He said faculty and staff members often work under demanding schedules, making such tournaments highly valuable for well-being and rejuvenation.

 

The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Observer Dr. Prashant S. Nagrale from VNIT Nagpur, Deans, HOD’s, HoCs, Chairperson, Chairman and faculty members, staff, organizing committee members, and team representatives from all participating institutes.

 

A felicitation ceremony was also held to honour dignitaries and representatives of participating NITs, showcasing the warm hospitality and organizational excellence of NIT Srinagar.

 

The formal proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, participants, organizing committee, and supporting staff for making the inaugural ceremony a success.

 

Earlier, a Managers’ Meeting regarding fixture finalization for the Tournament was held at High Tech 5. The meeting was aimed to discuss and finalize the tournament fixtures, match schedule, and team groupings for the smooth conduct of the championship. The tournament will witness participation from 24 NITs from across the country, promising exciting cricket action while fostering sportsmanship and camaraderie among faculty and staff.

 

It was attended by Dr. Prashant S. Nagrale, Observer from VNIT Nagpur; Deputy Registrar NIT Srinagar Faisal Irshad Ganai, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Technical Officer and SAS Officer from NIT Uttarakhand; Dr. Ani Dev Singh, Technical Officer from NIT Delhi; Dr. Manoj Kumar, Incharge Faculty, SAS, NIT Srinagar; Mrs. Kowsar Ali Mir, SAS Officer, NIT Srinagar Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, Manager, NIT Srinagar; and Mr. Sohail Ahmad Baba, SAS Assistant, NIT Srinagar.

 

Officials discussed fixture allocation and match scheduling to ensure a fair, competitive, and well-organized tournament.