Last week, Tarun and I travelled to London to compete in a weekend chess tournament before returning home on Sunday night. One of the events we had been looking forward to was a special gathering hosted by the Inter Diaspora Premier League (IDPL), to which we had been invited by IDPL founder Mr. Maruthi Nambi.
It was a privilege to attend an afternoon that brought together community leaders, sporting personalities, and representatives from various cultural associations across Ireland, all united by a shared vision of community, inclusion, and sporting excellence.
What is IDPL?
The Inter Diaspora Premier League (IDPL) began as a sporting initiative, but over time it has evolved into something much larger. During his address, Mr. Maruthi Nambi spoke about how IDPL has grown into a platform that brings together people from different states, languages, cultures, and backgrounds under a common purpose.
On the field, participants represent different teams, regions, and communities. Off the field, however, they stand united as one family.
What makes IDPL particularly special is the way participating communities consistently move beyond traditional boundaries. Whether it is the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Odiya, Assamese, Marathi, Malayali, Rajasthani, Delhi, or other Indian associations, every community proudly celebrates its own heritage while embracing and supporting the success of others.
The result is an environment where competition is fierce, yet collaboration remains strong. Communities celebrate their identities while contributing to a larger collective vision of unity and inclusion.
The Ten IDPL Teams
The IDPL features ten teams representing different regions and communities:
- Maratha Warriors – Captain Adithya Kulkarni
- Royal Challengers Karnataka – Captain Suresh Mariyappa
- Assam Rhinos – Captain Pankaj Rajkhowa
- Chennai Shamrock Kings – Captain Dhanasekar Venkatapathy
- Gujarat Guardians – Captain Jay Monpara
- Hyderabad Royals – Captain Santosh Pallae
- Kerala Super Kings – Captain Vinodh Pillai
- Kolkata Knight Fighters – Captain Arindam Sanyal
- Odisha Legends – Captain Sanjeeb Barik
- Rajasthani Rajwade – Captain Ankur Mehta
Having been born in Hyderabad, I’ll certainly be cheering for the Hyderabad Royals. Their captain, Mr. Santosh Pallae, is also a close family friend of ours.
Distinguished Guests in Attendance
The event was graced by several distinguished guests, including former Indian cricketer and Cricket Ireland Board member Mr. M.V. Narasimha Rao (Bobby Rao), Councillor Punam Rane, Chairman of North Kildare Cricket Club Mr. Brian Horn, and His Excellency Ambassador Manish Gupta.
Mr. M.V. Narasimha Rao (Bobby Rao)
Affectionately known as Bobby Rao, he is a former Indian cricketer and a respected member of the Cricket Ireland Board. He represents a bridge between India’s rich cricketing heritage and the continued growth of cricket in Ireland.
Councillor Punam Rane
Councillor Punam Rane has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to multicultural inclusion and community engagement across Dublin. Her support for initiatives that bring communities together reflects the very values that IDPL promotes.
His Excellency Ambassador Manish Gupta
The event was also honoured by the presence of His Excellency Ambassador Manish Gupta, whose participation highlighted the importance of strengthening community bonds through sport and cultural engagement.
Goodness Over Greatness: The IDPL Motto
One of the central themes of Mr. Nambi’s speech was the powerful motto that lies at the heart of IDPL:
“Goodness Over Greatness.”
Mr. Nambi also spoke about the Spirit of IDPL Award, which celebrates sportsmanship, integrity, inclusiveness, respect for opponents, support for fellow teams, and commitment to the wider community.
The Goodness Over Greatness Torch
One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of the IDPL Goodness Over Greatness Torch.
Mr. Nambi explained that the torch will be carried forward by distinguished sporting personalities, community leaders, and role models who embody the values championed by IDPL.
An Inspiring Ceremony
The afternoon began with introductions and speeches from the distinguished guests.
Mr. Maruthi Nambi opened the proceedings with an inspiring address outlining the vision and growth of IDPL. He was followed by Mr. Bobby Rao, whose speech was both insightful and engaging. Councillor Punam Rane also addressed the gathering, speaking about the importance of community and inclusion.
Tarun and I were then honoured to be felicitated by Mr. Maruthi Nambi with beautiful colourful silk shawls. We were invited to say a few words before taking part in one of the most memorable moments of the event.
While Tarun and I held the Goodness Over Greatness Torch, His Excellency Ambassador Manish Gupta officially lit it, symbolising the continuation of the values and vision that IDPL seeks to promote.
Following the torch-lighting ceremony, the torch was passed among the team captains present, reinforcing the message that these values belong to the entire community.
Afterwards, we had the opportunity to take photographs and spend time interacting with many of the guests and participants.
Meeting Bobby Rao
One of the most memorable parts of the afternoon was spending time speaking with Mr. Bobby Rao.
Hearing first-hand stories from someone who has contributed so much to the game of cricket was both fascinating and inspiring. What made the conversation even more special was that we spoke in Telugu, our shared language, which made our discussions feel very natural and personal.
Mr. Rao had driven more than three and a half hours to attend the event, demonstrating his dedication to supporting community initiatives.
He showed us photographs from his younger days, shared amusing stories from his cricketing journey, and spoke about the lessons he learned throughout his career. Tarun and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him and learning from his experiences.
To our delight, he also gifted us a signed copy of his book, which we will treasure.
A Special Connection with the Founder
The event also provided an opportunity to reconnect with someone who shares a unique connection with our family.
Mr. Maruthi Nambi, the founder of IDPL, was a close friend of our father during the early 2000s. Along with a few others, they shared accommodation in Leixlip while working at Intel.
It was wonderful to hear stories from those days. Maruthi shared several amusing memories involving him and our dad, and Tarun and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about that chapter of their lives. It was also lovely to reconnect with one of our father’s old friends and learn more about their early years in Ireland.
Final Thoughts
The Inter Diaspora Premier League is much more than a sporting competition. It is a celebration of diversity, community, and shared values. The event demonstrated how sport can bring people together across cultures, languages, and backgrounds while promoting respect, inclusion, and friendship.
It would also be wonderful to see IDPL continue expanding in the future through initiatives that promote greater participation for women in sport. A women’s cricket league or similar platform would be an incredible step forward, creating more opportunities, inspiring young girls, and further strengthening the spirit of inclusivity that IDPL stands for.
Tarun and I feel deeply honoured to have been invited to participate in this special occasion. It was an afternoon filled with inspiring conversations, meaningful connections, and powerful reminders of the values that truly matter.
As IDPL continues to grow, its message remains clear and relevant:
Goodness Over Greatness.