Srinagar, May 20: The Inter-Department Cricket Tournament 2026 began at National Institute of Technology Srinagar on Wednesday, with 14 teams participating in the mega sporting event being organised on a knockout basis.

The tournament was inaugurated by Dr. Shashikant, In-charge Dean Students Welfare, in the presence of Dr. Manoj Kumar, In-charge Faculty Sports Activity and Students (SAS), Kowsar Ali Mir, SAS Officer, and Sohail Ahmad Baba, SAS Assistant.

The opening match of the tournament was played between PhD III and M.Tech I teams. After winning the toss, PhD III elected to bat first and posted a competitive total of 158 runs in the allotted 15 overs.

Amjad Hussain starred with the bat for PhD III, scoring a blistering 78 runs off 46 balls, while Saqib Malik contributed 45 runs from 30 deliveries. For M.Tech I, bowlers Sholay and Nushat claimed one wicket each.

In reply, M.Tech I failed to chase the target and managed to score only 97 runs in their allotted 15 overs. PhD III won the match convincingly by 61 runs.

The second match witnessed a dominant performance by the Civil Engineering Department against PhD II. After winning the toss, the Civil Engineering Department opted to bat first and piled up a massive total of 264 runs in 15 overs.

Adna Fayaz played a sensational knock of 118 runs off just 37 balls, while Musharaf Mushtaq added 89 runs from 43 deliveries to power the team to a huge total.

Chasing 264, the PhD II side struggled throughout the innings and could score only 79 runs in 15 overs. The Civil Engineering Department registered a comprehensive 184-run victory.

In his message, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, said that sports activities play a vital role in the overall personality development of students. It will also help in promoting discipline, teamwork and a spirit of healthy competition among youth, he said.

Registrar, Prof. Atikur Rehman, said the Institute remains committed to encouraging co-curricular and extracurricular activities alongside academic excellence.

He expressed hope that the tournament would provide students an opportunity to showcase their sporting talent and strengthen inter-departmental camaraderie.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shashikant said NIT Srinagar is continuously working to create a vibrant sporting culture on the campus and encouraged students to actively participate in such events. Sports not only enhance physical fitness but also instill leadership qualities and confidence among students, he added.

Dr. Manoj Kumar, In-charge Faculty Sports Activity and Students (SAS) said the tournament will continue over the coming days with teams from different departments competing for the title in the knockout-format championship.