The Uttar Pradesh T20 League is a state-level franchise cricket tournament organised by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association. The competition was launched in 2023 to give players from Uttar Pradesh a strong platform in domestic T20 cricket. The league has six franchises representing different parts of the state and has become an important competition for emerging Indian cricketers.
The tournament has already produced several close matches and different champions across its first four seasons. Kashi Rudras won the inaugural edition in 2023, while Meerut Mavericks won the 2024 season. Kashi Rudras returned to the top in 2025 before Meerut Mavericks won their second title in 2026.
What Is the Uttar Pradesh T20 League?
The Uttar Pradesh T20 League, also known as the UP T20 League or UPT20, is a franchise-based T20 competition for players associated with Uttar Pradesh cricket.
The league was launched in 2023 by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association. It currently features six teams, with each franchise representing a different city or region of Uttar Pradesh.
The competition gives domestic players the opportunity to play regular high-level T20 cricket alongside established names from the state. Several players who have appeared in the league have also featured in the IPL and other major domestic competitions.
History of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League
2023: Kashi Rudras Win the Inaugural Title
The first edition of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League was played in 2023, with six teams taking part.
Kashi Rudras and Meerut Mavericks reached the final at Green Park in Kanpur on September 16, 2023. Meerut Mavericks scored 146/8 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first.
Kashi Rudras chased down the target in 19.1 overs, finishing on 150/3 and winning the final by seven wickets. Bobby Yadav was named Player of the Match after taking 3/30.
Kashi Rudras therefore became the first champions in league history.
2024: Meerut Mavericks Win Their First Trophy
Meerut Mavericks became champions in the second season in 2024.
They faced Kanpur Superstars in the final, which was played on September 14. Kanpur posted 190/5 in the first innings, giving Meerut a challenging target.
Meerut Mavericks completed the chase at 196/5 in 19.4 overs and won by five wickets. The victory gave Meerut their first UP T20 League title.
The 2024 season featured six teams and 34 matches, with Meerut also finishing the league stage at the top of the points table after winning eight of their 10 matches.
2025: Kashi Rudras Win Again
Kashi Rudras returned to the final in 2025 and faced defending champions Meerut Mavericks.
Meerut scored 144/9 in the final at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Kashi Rudras chased the target in just 15.4 overs, reaching 148/2 to win by eight wickets.
Captain Karan Sharma played a major role in the victory, scoring 65 from 31 balls, while Abhishek Goswami made 61. Shivam Mavi was also one of the standout performers during the tournament, finishing with 22 wickets.
The victory gave Kashi Rudras their second championship after their inaugural triumph in 2023.
2026: Meerut Mavericks Win Their Second Title
The 2026 season was played from August 14 to September 7 and consisted of 34 matches involving the same six franchises.
Meerut Mavericks reached the final and faced Lucknow Falcons. In the championship match, Meerut posted 203/7 in 20 overs, with Divyansh Joshi scoring a record-breaking 105 from 40 balls.
Lucknow Falcons were bowled out for 109 in 16 overs, giving Meerut Mavericks a 94-run victory. The result secured Meerut’s second UP T20 League title after their 2024 triumph.
Uttar Pradesh T20 League Winners List
| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
| 2023 | Kashi Rudras | Meerut Mavericks |
| 2024 | Meerut Mavericks | Kanpur Superstars |
| 2025 | Kashi Rudras | Meerut Mavericks |
| 2026 | Meerut Mavericks | Lucknow Falcons |
The first four editions have produced three different final matchups, with Kashi Rudras and Meerut Mavericks accounting for all four championships between them.
Teams in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League
The UP T20 League currently has six franchises:
1. Gorakhpur Lions
The Gorakhpur Lions represent the eastern Uttar Pradesh city of Gorakhpur. They are one of the six original franchises and have competed since the league’s first season.
2. Kanpur Superstars
Kanpur Superstars represent Kanpur and are based at one of the state’s traditional cricket centres. The team reached the 2024 final before losing to Meerut Mavericks by five wickets.
3. Kashi Rudras
Kashi Rudras represent the Varanasi region and have been one of the most successful teams in the competition. They won the inaugural 2023 title and added another championship in 2025.
4. Lucknow Falcons
The Lucknow Falcons represent the state capital, Lucknow. The team reached the 2026 final but lost to Meerut Mavericks by 94 runs.
5. Meerut Mavericks
Meerut Mavericks represent Meerut and have consistently been among the strongest teams in the competition.
They won the 2024 title and returned to the top in 2026, giving them two championships. They were also runners-up in both 2023 and 2025.
6. Noida Kings
Noida Kings represent Noida and complete the league’s current six-team lineup. The franchise has competed in each season of the competition. The official league currently lists these six franchises as its participating teams.
Uttar Pradesh T20 League Format
The tournament is played in the T20 format, with each team playing league matches before the playoff stage.
The 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions each consisted of 34 matches involving six teams.
The league stage determines the teams that progress to the playoffs. The 2024 season, for example, featured a Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and Final.
This structure gives teams multiple opportunities to qualify for the final while keeping the league stage competitive.
Where Is the UP T20 League Played?
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has been a major venue for the competition, particularly in recent seasons.
The 2024 playoff matches were held in Lucknow, while the final was also played at Ekana Stadium.
The inaugural 2023 final was played at Green Park in Kanpur, where Kashi Rudras defeated Meerut Mavericks by seven wickets.
Key Players in the UP T20 League
The tournament has featured several players with experience in Indian domestic cricket and the IPL.
Karan Sharma has been one of the most productive batters in the competition. In 2025, he scored 519 runs, including a tournament-leading 626-run campaign in the 2023 edition.
Sameer Rizvi has also been a major name in the competition. He scored 491 runs in the 2025 season for Kanpur Superstars, while Rinku Singh scored 372 runs for Meerut Mavericks.
On the bowling side, Shivam Mavi was the leading wicket-taker in 2025 with 22 wickets. Vipraj Nigam and Atal Bihari-Rai both finished with 20 wickets.
The 2026 season also produced a major batting performance from Divyansh Joshi, who scored 105 from 40 balls in the final against Lucknow Falcons.
UP T20 League 2026 Season
The 2026 edition was the fourth season of the competition.
The tournament began on August 14, with the final played on September 6. Meerut Mavericks finished the league stage with seven wins, two losses and one no-result, giving them 15 points and the top position in the table.
Lucknow Falcons finished second with 13 points and eventually reached the final. Meerut then produced a strong performance in the championship match to defeat Lucknow by 94 runs.
With this victory, Meerut Mavericks became the first team to win the UP T20 League twice after their earlier championship in 2024.
Why the UP T20 League Matters
The UP T20 League provides a competitive platform for cricketers from Uttar Pradesh who are looking to establish themselves in professional cricket.
The league also allows selectors, IPL franchises and domestic teams to monitor players in a structured T20 competition. The official league describes the tournament as a platform for emerging talent and highlights its connection with the development of players from the state.
Its first four seasons have also produced a competitive championship record, with Kashi Rudras winning twice and Meerut Mavericks winning twice.
FAQs
Q. When was the Uttar Pradesh T20 League started?
A. The Uttar Pradesh T20 League started in 2023.
Q. Who won the first UP T20 League?
A. Kashi Rudras won the inaugural title in 2023.
Q. Who won the UP T20 League 2026?
A. Meerut Mavericks won the 2026 title.
Q. How many teams play in the UP T20 League?
A. Six teams currently play in the league.
Q. Who has won the most UP T20 League titles?
A. Kashi Rudras and Meerut Mavericks have two titles each after four seasons.
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