The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 is Karnataka’s premier state-level franchise T20 cricket tournament. It is organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association and features six teams representing different parts of the state. The competition was introduced in 2022 after the Karnataka Premier League era ended, giving Karnataka’s domestic cricketers a new franchise platform.
The tournament has produced a different champion in each of its first five editions. Gulbarga Mystics won the inaugural 2022 season, followed by Hubli Tigers in 2023, Mysuru Warriors in 2024, Mangaluru Dragons in 2025 and Shivamogga Yodhas in 2026.
What Is the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20?
The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 is a T20 franchise competition run by the Karnataka State Cricket Association, commonly known as KSCA.
The tournament was created after the Karnataka Premier League was discontinued. The KPL had been Karnataka’s main franchise T20 competition, but it was ended following a match-fixing investigation and arrests. KSCA subsequently established the Maharaja Trophy as its replacement.
The competition gives Karnataka’s domestic players an opportunity to play franchise cricket against some of the state’s more experienced names. It has also become a platform for young players who are looking to make their mark in domestic cricket and attract attention from IPL franchises.
History of the Maharaja Trophy
2022: Gulbarga Mystics Win the First Title
The first Maharaja Trophy season was played in 2022.
Gulbarga Mystics became the inaugural champions after defeating Bengaluru Blasters in the final. The victory gave Gulbarga the first trophy in the history of the new competition.
The first edition established the six-team format that has remained central to the tournament.
2023: Hubli Tigers Become Champions
Hubli Tigers won the second edition in 2023.
They defeated Mysuru Warriors in the final to become the second different champion in as many seasons. The Tigers won the championship match by eight runs.
The result continued the tournament’s early trend of having a different team lift the trophy every season.
2024: Mysuru Warriors Win Their First Trophy
Mysuru Warriors became champions in 2024 after reaching the final for the second consecutive year.
They defeated Bengaluru Blasters in the final at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, winning by 45 runs. It was the Warriors’ first Maharaja Trophy title.
The entire 2024 season was played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, making it the first edition to be held entirely at the Bengaluru venue.
2025: Mangaluru Dragons Win Their First Title
Mangaluru Dragons became the fourth different champions in four seasons in 2025.
They defeated Hubli Tigers in the final to claim their maiden title. The victory meant that no team had won the Maharaja Trophy more than once after four editions.
The Mangaluru Dragons were later rebranded as the Coastal Kings Mangaluru for the 2026 season.
2026: Shivamogga Yodhas Make History
Shivamogga Yodhas won the 2026 Maharaja Trophy after defeating Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters by four wickets in the final at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Bengaluru Blasters scored 185/8 after batting first. Shivamogga Yodhas chased the target successfully, reaching 186/6 in 19.4 overs.
Captain Luvnith Sisodia played the key innings for Shivamogga, scoring 87 from 45 balls. KV Aneesh then finished the chase with an unbeaten 38 from 19 balls.
The victory made Shivamogga Yodhas the fifth different champion in five editions.
Maharaja Trophy Winners List
| Season | Year | Champion | Runner-up |
| Season 1 | 2022 | Gulbarga Mystics | Bengaluru Blasters |
| Season 2 | 2023 | Hubli Tigers | Mysuru Warriors |
| Season 3 | 2024 | Mysuru Warriors | Bengaluru Blasters |
| Season 4 | 2025 | Mangaluru Dragons | Hubli Tigers |
| Season 5 | 2026 | Shivamogga Yodhas | Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters |
The first five editions have produced five different champions, meaning no franchise has won the Maharaja Trophy twice so far.
Teams in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20
The tournament currently has six franchises.
Bengaluru Blasters
Bengaluru Blasters represent Karnataka’s capital and play their home matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium when the tournament is held in Bengaluru.
They were runners-up in 2022 and 2024 and reached the 2026 final, where they lost to Shivamogga Yodhas by four wickets.
Gulbarga Mystics
Gulbarga Mystics represent the Gulbarga region of Karnataka.
They won the inaugural Maharaja Trophy in 2022 and became the first team to lift the new competition’s trophy.
Hubli Tigers
Hubli Tigers represent Hubballi and the surrounding region.
The Tigers won the 2023 title and also reached the final in 2025, when they finished runners-up to the Mangaluru Dragons.
Mysuru Warriors
Mysuru Warriors represent Mysuru.
They reached the final in 2023 before winning their first championship in 2024. The Warriors defeated Bengaluru Blasters by 45 runs in the 2024 final.
Shivamogga Yodhas
Shivamogga Yodhas represent Shivamogga.
The franchise was previously known as Shivamogga Lions and was renamed before the 2026 season. The Yodhas won their first Maharaja Trophy title in 2026 after beating Bengaluru Blasters in the final.
Coastal Kings Mangaluru
Coastal Kings Mangaluru represents Mangaluru.
The franchise previously competed as Mangaluru Dragons and won the 2025 championship. It entered the 2026 season under its new name.
Maharaja Trophy 2026 Teams
The six franchises in the 2026 season were:
- Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters
- Gulbarga Mystics
- Hubli Tigers
- Mysore Warriors
- Shivamogga Yodhas
- Coastal Kings Mangaluru
The 2026 season featured six teams and 34 matches.
Maharaja Trophy Format
The Maharaja Trophy uses the T20 format, with six teams competing in a league stage before the knockout phase.
The 2026 season consisted of 34 matches. The league phase was followed by an Eliminator, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2 and the final.
The top teams from the league stage receive a route into the Qualifier matches, while the other playoff teams compete in the Eliminator for a place in the later knockout stage.
This structure gives the teams a regular run of league matches before the championship is decided through the playoffs.
Maharaja Trophy 2026 Venues
The 2026 tournament was played across three cities in Karnataka: Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru.
The opening part of the competition was played in Mysuru from June 20 to June 26. Matches then moved to Hubballi from June 27 to July 3 before the tournament moved to Bengaluru for its final stage.
The playoffs and final were played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The final was held on July 12, 2026, with Shivamogga Yodhas defeating Bengaluru Blasters by four wickets.
Key Players in the Maharaja Trophy
The tournament has featured several established Karnataka cricketers alongside younger domestic players.
Karun Nair has been one of the leading run-scorers in Maharaja Trophy history. He has represented Mangaluru and has remained an important batting name in the competition.
Manish Pandey has also been a prominent player for Gulbarga Mystics and brings considerable domestic and IPL experience to the tournament. His presence has helped connect the state competition with India’s wider domestic cricket system.
Devdutt Padikkal has also featured for Mysore Warriors, while players such as Smaran, Luvnith Sisodia, KV Aneesh and Nikin Jose have been among the younger names associated with the league.
2026 Player of the Series
Abhilash Shetty was named Player of the Series for the 2026 Maharaja Trophy.
The Shivamogga Yodhas player was part of the championship-winning campaign and was recognised as the tournament’s leading overall performer.
His award came in the same season in which Shivamogga won their first Maharaja Trophy title.
Luvnith Sisodia’s Final Performance
Luvnith Sisodia was the main batting performer in the 2026 final.
After Bengaluru Blasters posted 185/8, Sisodia scored 87 from only 45 deliveries during the chase. His innings gave Shivamogga the momentum needed to stay ahead of the required run rate.
KV Aneesh provided the finishing contribution with an unbeaten 38 from 19 balls, and the Yodhas completed the chase with two balls remaining.
Maharaja Trophy and Karnataka Cricket
The Maharaja Trophy plays an important role in Karnataka’s domestic cricket structure by providing a dedicated T20 competition for players from the state.
The league allows young cricketers to play alongside experienced domestic players and gives them exposure to franchise-style cricket. It also gives selectors and IPL teams another competition through which emerging Karnataka talent can be assessed.
The tournament’s first five seasons have produced five different champions, showing how competitive the competition has been since its launch in 2022.
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Official name | Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 |
| Organiser | Karnataka State Cricket Association |
| First season | 2022 |
| Format | T20 |
| Teams | 6 |
| 2026 matches | 34 |
| 2026 venues | Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru |
| 2026 final venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 2026 champion | Shivamogga Yodhas |
| 2026 runner-up | Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters |
| Player of the Series | Abhilash Shetty |
| 2026 final result | Shivamogga Yodhas won by 4 wickets |
The 2026 season ran from June 20 to July 12 and ended with Shivamogga Yodhas winning their first Maharaja Trophy championship.
FAQs
Q. When did the Maharaja Trophy start?
A. The Maharaja Trophy began in 2022.
Q. Who won the Maharaja Trophy 2026?
A. Shivamogga Yodhas won the 2026 title.
Q. How many teams play in the Maharaja Trophy?
A. Six teams currently compete in the tournament.
Q. Who won the first Maharaja Trophy?
A. Gulbarga Mystics won the inaugural title in 2022.
Q. Who has won the most Maharaja Trophy titles?
A. No team has won the title more than once so far.
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