The Madhya Pradesh Premier League (MPL), also known as the Madhya Pradesh League T20 Scindia Cup, is a franchise-based T20 cricket competition organised by the Gwalior Division Cricket Association under the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. The league was introduced in 2024 to give players from across the state a bigger platform in short-format cricket. The competition is approved by the MPCA and BCCI.
The league has grown quickly since its first season. Jabalpur Lions won the inaugural title in 2024, Bhopal Leopards became champions in 2025, and Chambal Ghariyals lifted their maiden trophy in 2026.
The 2026 edition was also the biggest season yet, with the competition expanding to 10 teams and moving from Gwalior to Indore because of renovation work at the traditional Gwalior venue.
What Is the Madhya Pradesh Premier League?
The Madhya Pradesh Premier League is a state-level franchise T20 tournament featuring players from Madhya Pradesh.
The competition is organised by the Gwalior Division Cricket Association under the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association. Its stated aim is to identify young talent and give players an opportunity to develop through high-level T20 cricket.
The league is also known as the MPL T20 Scindia Cup, with the tournament named after the Scindia family and associated with its Gwalior roots.
The first two seasons were played in Gwalior. For 2026, the tournament shifted to Indore, with Holkar Stadium and Daly College Cricket Ground used as venues.
History of the Madhya Pradesh Premier League
The MPL is still a young competition, but its first three seasons have produced three different champions.
2024 – Jabalpur Lions
The inaugural Madhya Pradesh Premier League was held in June 2024.
Five teams initially competed in the first edition: Bhopal Leopards, Gwalior Cheetahs, Jabalpur Lions, Malwa Panthers and Rewa Jaguars. The league stage followed a round-robin format, with teams meeting twice.
Jabalpur Lions finished the league stage unbeaten and advanced to the final. Bhopal Leopards reached the final after winning their knockout match against Gwalior Cheetahs.
In the final on June 23, Jabalpur Lions produced a huge batting performance. They scored 249/4 in 20 overs, with Abhishek Pathak making 142 from 62 balls.
Bhopal Leopards were bowled out for 216 in 18.4 overs, giving Jabalpur Lions a 33-run victory. Pathak was named Player of the Match after scoring 142 and taking two wickets.
Jabalpur Lions therefore became the first MPL champions.
2025 – Bhopal Leopards
Bhopal Leopards went one step further in 2025 after finishing runners-up in the inaugural season.
They reached the final against Chambal Ghariyals at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in Gwalior on June 24, 2025.
Bhopal Leopards batted first and were dismissed for 156 in 19.2 overs. The total looked modest, but their bowlers produced a strong performance in the chase.
Chambal Ghariyals finished on 154/7 in 20 overs, leaving Bhopal Leopards with a dramatic two-run victory. Aniket Verma was named Player of the Match after scoring 40 from 24 balls.
The result gave Bhopal Leopards their first MPL title.
2026 – Chambal Ghariyals
The 2026 season brought another major change as the MPL expanded to 10 teams.
Three new franchises joined the competition, taking the number of teams from seven to 10. The tournament also moved from Gwalior to Indore because the Madhavrao Scindia International Stadium was undergoing renovation work.
The 2026 season ran from June 3 to June 26, with 45 league matches followed by two semi-finals and the final.
Chambal Ghariyals finished the league stage unbeaten and carried that record into the knockout rounds. They defeated Jabalpur Royal Lions by 11 runs in the semi-final to reach the title match.
In the final on June 26, Chambal Ghariyals faced Royal Nimar Eagles at Holkar Stadium.
Chambal batted first and scored 224/5 in 20 overs. Shubham Sharma scored 61 from 38 balls, while Apurve Dwivedi made 51 from 25 deliveries and Tripuresh Singh added an unbeaten 43.
The Royal Nimar Eagles responded with 193/7 in 20 overs. Chambal Ghariyals were therefore won by 31 runs and claimed their first MPL title.
The victory also completed an unbeaten men’s campaign for Chambal Ghariyals.
Madhya Pradesh Premier League Winners List
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
| 2024 | Jabalpur Lions | Bhopal Leopards |
| 2025 | Bhopal Leopards | Chambal Ghariyals |
| 2026 | Chambal Ghariyals | Royal Nimar Eagles |
Three seasons have produced three different champions. Jabalpur Lions won the first edition, Bhopal Leopards followed in 2025, and Chambal Ghariyals became champions in 2026.
Madhya Pradesh Premier League Teams
The number of teams has increased since the competition began.
The first edition had five teams, while the 2026 tournament featured 10 franchises.
The 10 teams in the 2026 MPL were:
- Bhopal Leopards
- Bundelkhand Bulls
- Chambal Ghariyals
- Gwalior Cheetahs
- Indore Pink Panthers
- Jabalpur Royal Lions
- Malwa Stallions
- Rewa Jaguars
- Royal Nimar Eagles
- Ujjain Falcons
The expansion added Malwa Stallions, Royal Nimar Eagles and Ujjain Falcons to the previous seven-team field.
Bhopal Leopards
Bhopal Leopards became the 2025 MPL champions after defeating Chambal Ghariyals in a two-run final.
They entered the 2026 season as defending champions and were led by Arshad Khan. The squad also included players such as Aniket Verma and Kamal Tripathi.
Bundelkhand Bulls
Bundelkhand Bulls were part of the expanded 2026 competition.
The team was led by Shivang Kumar and included experienced domestic players such as Kuldeep Sen and Abhishek Pathak.
Chambal Ghariyals
Chambal Ghariyals became the 2026 MPL champions.
They had already reached the final in 2025 before losing to Bhopal Leopards. In 2026, they returned to the final and defeated Royal Nimar Eagles by 31 runs.
Shubham Sharma captained the side, while Ankush Singh was one of their main batting performers. Indian pacer Avesh Khan was also part of the squad.
Gwalior Cheetahs
Gwalior Cheetahs are one of the original MPL franchises and represent the host city from the competition’s first two editions.
Rajat Patidar was among the major names associated with the team in 2026, with Mangesh Yadav also included in the squad.
Indore Pink Panthers
The Indore Pink Panthers were one of the teams introduced as part of the expanded competition.
The franchise was led by Venkatesh Iyer in 2026 and played its home-region season after the league moved to Indore.
Jabalpur Royal Lions
Jabalpur Royal Lions are the franchise associated with the first MPL champions, Jabalpur Lions.
The team reached the 2026 semi-final but lost to eventual champions Chambal Ghariyals by 11 runs.
Malwa Stallions
Malwa Stallions were one of the three new franchises added for the 2026 season.
The team was led by Parth Sahani and joined the expanded 10-team competition.
Rewa Jaguars
Rewa Jaguars were among the established franchises retained for the expanded 2026 tournament.
The team represented Rewa and was led by Sagar Solanki.
Royal Nimar Eagles
The Royal Nimar Eagles were one of the new teams introduced in 2026.
The franchise reached the final in its first season but lost to Chambal Ghariyals by 31 runs. Saransh Jain captained the side, while Kumar Kartikeya was among its notable players.
Ujjain Falcons
Ujjain Falcons were also introduced in the 2026 expansion.
Madhav Tiwari led the new franchise during its first MPL campaign.
Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2026 Format
The 2026 MPL had 10 teams and used a single round-robin league stage.
Each team played the other nine teams once, producing 45 league matches. The top four teams then advanced to the semi-finals. The two semi-finals were played on June 25, followed by the final on June 26.
That made 48 matches in total:
| Stage | Matches |
| League stage | 45 |
| Semi-finals | 2 |
| Final | 1 |
| Total | 48 |
Chambal Ghariyals finished the league stage with eight wins and one no-result, remaining unbeaten before the knockout stage. Royal Nimar Eagles finished second with seven wins, one loss and one no-result.
Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2026 Final
The 2026 final was played between Chambal Ghariyals and Royal Nimar Eagles at Holkar Stadium in Indore on June 26.
The Royal Nimar Eagles won the toss and chose to bowl.
Chambal Ghariyals scored 224/5 in their 20 overs. Apurve Dwivedi scored 51 from 25 balls, Shubham Sharma made 61 from 38, Tripuresh Singh remained unbeaten on 43 from 24 and Abhishekh Mavi finished with 73 not out from 39 balls.
The Royal Nimar Eagles made a strong attempt to chase the target but ended on 193/7 after 20 overs.
Chambal Ghariyals won by 31 runs and lifted the MPL trophy for the first time.
Key Players in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League
The MPL has featured several players with experience at state, IPL and higher levels.
Ankush Singh
Ankush Singh was one of Chambal Ghariyals’ leading batters during their 2026 title campaign.
He scored 372 runs during the season, with an average of 46.50 and a strike rate of 170.64.
He also scored a century during the tournament against the Jabalpur Royal Lions as Chambal maintained their unbeaten run.
Avesh Khan
Avesh Khan was one of the biggest names in the 2026 MPL.
The India fast bowler represented Chambal Ghariyals and brought considerable domestic and international experience to the competition. He was also involved in the team’s semi-final victory over Jabalpur Royal Lions.
Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar was part of the Gwalior Cheetahs squad for the 2026 season.
The Madhya Pradesh batter has also represented India and played a major role in domestic and IPL cricket. His presence added another recognised name to the expanded MPL.
Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer captained Indore Pink Panthers during the 2026 season.
His experience in Indian domestic and IPL cricket made him one of the better-known players in the tournament.
Ajay Rohera
Ajay Rohera was one of the leading run-scorers in the 2026 tournament for Jabalpur Lions.
He scored 527 runs in 10 matches, averaging 65.88 with a strike rate of 167.83.
Madhya Pradesh Premier League Venues
The first two editions of the MPL were played in Gwalior.
The 2024 final took place at the Gwalior International Cricket Stadium, where Jabalpur Lions defeated Bhopal Leopards by 33 runs.
The 2025 final was held at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in Gwalior.
The tournament moved to Indore in 2026 because renovation work was taking place at the traditional Gwalior venue. Holkar Stadium became the main venue, while Daly College Cricket Ground also hosted matches.
The 2026 final was played at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Madhya Pradesh Premier League Auction
The MPL has moved toward a more franchise-style player selection system as the competition has grown.
The 2026 season featured an IPL-style auction for the first time, with 10 franchises building their squads for the expanded competition.
Several established names were included in the 2026 squads, including Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Sen and Kumar Kartikeya.
The auction system gives franchises the opportunity to combine experienced players with younger cricketers from the state.
Why the Madhya Pradesh Premier League Matters
The MPL provides Madhya Pradesh cricketers with another competitive platform outside the regular domestic structure.
The league’s organisers say one of its main objectives is to identify young talent and give players the opportunity to develop into professional cricketers.
The tournament has already helped create opportunities for players to compete alongside established names. The presence of players such as Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer and Avesh Khan in 2026 also raised the level of experience available to younger players.
The growth from five teams in 2024 to 10 teams in 2026 shows how quickly the competition has expanded.
Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2026 at a Glance
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Madhya Pradesh Premier League |
| Short Name | MPL |
| Other Name | Madhya Pradesh League T20 Scindia Cup |
| Organiser | Gwalior Division Cricket Association |
| Governing Association | Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association |
| Format | T20 |
| First Season | 2024 |
| 2024 Champion | Jabalpur Lions |
| 2025 Champion | Bhopal Leopards |
| 2026 Champion | Chambal Ghariyals |
| 2026 Runner-up | Royal Nimar Eagles |
| 2026 Teams | 10 |
| 2026 League Matches | 45 |
| 2026 Total Matches | 48 |
| 2026 Final Venue | Holkar Stadium, Indore |
| 2026 Final Result | Chambal Ghariyals won by 31 runs |
The Madhya Pradesh Premier League has had three editions so far, with Jabalpur Lions, Bhopal Leopards and Chambal Ghariyals winning one title each. The 2026 edition was the biggest yet, expanding to 10 teams and moving to Indore. Chambal Ghariyals completed an unbeaten campaign by defeating Royal Nimar Eagles by 31 runs in the final.
FAQs
Q. When did the Madhya Pradesh Premier League start?
A. The MPL started in 2024.
Q. Who won the MPL 2026 title?
A. Chambal Ghariyals won the 2026 title.
Q. Who won the first MPL title?
A. Jabalpur Lions won the first title in 2024.
Q. How many teams played in MPL 2026?
A. Ten teams played in the 2026 season.
Q. Where was the MPL 2026 final played?
A. The final was played at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
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