From Chandigarh’s Streets, a Powerful Call Against Drugs: When the Cricket Bat Became an Instrument of Change

Chandigarh: “Swing the bat, drive drugs away” — more than just a catchy slogan, it has become a collective resolve to pull the city’s youth out of darkness and towards a brighter future. Across the streets and parks of Chandigarh, the sound of tennis-ball cricket is scripting a new story of hope and transformation.
What began as a visionary initiative by the UT Cricket Association Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Chandigarh Police, has now evolved into a full-fledged social movement. The Gully Cricket Tournament, launched with the aim of steering youngsters away from substance abuse, is now resonating across North India as a model of sports-driven social reform.
The driving force behind this campaign, senior BJP leader and former UT Cricket Association Chandigarh president Sanjay Tandon, believes that if the boundless energy of youth is not channelled in the right direction, it can easily go astray.
Sharing the core philosophy behind the initiative, he said, “We realised that unless we bring children out of the narrow lanes and into the playgrounds, we cannot inspire them to dream of a better future. Cricket is like a religion in our country, and we decided to turn this passion into a weapon against drugs. Our goal is not just to produce cricketers, but to guide young lives away from addiction and towards discipline, health, and purpose.”
The tournament is far more than a sporting event — it is a battle against one of society’s gravest challenges. With 288 teams and nearly 3,500 players taking to the field, every ball bowled and every shot played symbolizes a strike against the menace of drugs.
According to Tandon, the platform gives young participants an opportunity to move from the “lanes of notoriety” to the “stadiums of recognition,” helping them build confidence and a sense of achievement.
The campaign’s remarkable impact earned it a place in the Asia Book of Records, but organisers say the real achievement lies beyond records. Before every match, players take a solemn pledge to stay away from drugs — a symbolic yet powerful commitment to a healthier future.
The partnership between the Chandigarh Police and the UT Cricket Association Chandigarh stands as proof that when sports and social service come together, they create not only better athletes but also the foundation of a drug-free society.
Sanjay Tandon’s vision remains simple and unwavering: playgrounds should never remain empty, because as long as there is a bat in a young hand, drugs will never be able to take hold of it.