The Saurashtra Premier League (SPL) is a franchise-based T20 cricket tournament organised by the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) for players from the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat. The competition began in 2019 and has featured five regional franchises.
The original Saurashtra Premier League was played in 2019, 2022 and 2023. In 2025, the competition was relaunched as the Saurashtra Pro T20 League, with a new franchise-based approach and new team identities. The 2025 tournament was won by JMD Kutch Riders, who defeated Anmol Kings Halar in the final.
The Saurashtra Cricket Association postponed the planned 2026 edition from June because of concerns around fuel prices and travel costs. The tournament was expected to be moved to August but was postponed because of the rise in petrol and diesel prices and concerns about travel costs
What Is the Saurashtra Premier League?
The Saurashtra Premier League is a regional T20 competition based in Rajkot, Gujarat. It was created by the Saurashtra Cricket Association to provide local cricketers with a competitive franchise platform.
The league represents different regions of Saurashtra and Kutch rather than individual states or cities outside the SCA’s jurisdiction. Five franchises have traditionally taken part in the competition.
All matches of the original SPL were played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, which has since been renamed the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
In 2025, the tournament was rebranded as the Saurashtra Pro T20 League. The SCA described the new competition as a bigger franchise-based platform for established and emerging players from the region.
History of the Saurashtra Premier League
The tournament has gone through several changes since its launch, including a change in name and franchise identities.
2019 – Sorath Lions
The first Saurashtra Premier League was played in 2019.
Five teams took part in the inaugural edition, with Sorath Lions facing Zalawad Royals in the final at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Sorath Lions scored 158/8 from 20 overs. Zalawad Royals managed 153/8, giving Sorath Lions a five-run victory and the first SPL title.
Himalaya Barad scored 83 from 59 balls for the Sorath Lions and was named Player of the Match. Chetan Sakariya was named Player of the Series after taking 12 wickets during the tournament.
2022 – Halar Heroes
The second edition was played in 2022 after the league returned following a two-year gap.
Halar Heroes faced Gohilwad Gladiators in the final. Halar Heroes scored 162/5 in 20 overs before bowling out Gohilwad Gladiators for 122 in 17.5 overs.
Halar Heroes therefore won the final by 40 runs and claimed their first SPL title.
Navneet Vora and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja took three wickets each for the champions. Parth Chauhan scored an unbeaten 39 for Halar Heroes.
2023 – Kutch Warriors
The third edition was held in August 2023.
Kutch Warriors and Gohilwad Gladiators reached the final after finishing first and second in the league stage. The final was played on August 31 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Kutch Warriors scored 156/7 from 20 overs. Gohilwad Gladiators were bowled out for 135 in 19.3 overs, giving Kutch Warriors a 21-run victory.
Kushang Patel took four wickets for Kutch Warriors, while Raxit Mehta scored 72 from 41 balls for the losing side. Kutch Warriors became the third different champion in three editions.
2024 – No SPL Season
There was no completed Saurashtra Premier League edition in 2024.
The competition returned in 2025 with a new name and franchise structure as the Saurashtra Pro T20 League.
2025 – JMD Kutch Riders
The tournament returned in 2025 as the Saurashtra Pro T20 League.
The fourth edition began on June 7 and featured five franchise-owned teams. The tournament was played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
The five teams were Anmol Kings Halar, Aryan Sorath Lions, Dita Gohilwad Titans, JMD Kutch Riders and Zalwad Strikers.
JMD Kutch Riders reached the final against Anmol Kings Halar. Halar were bowled out for 142 in 19.4 overs, while JMD Kutch Riders reached 143/4 in 17.3 overs.
JMD Kutch Riders won by six wickets to claim the 2025 title.
2026 – Postponed
The Saurashtra Pro T20 League was initially scheduled to return in June 2026.
The Saurashtra Cricket Association postponed the tournament because of the rise in petrol and diesel prices and concerns about travel costs. Reports said the tournament was expected to be shifted to August.
An update from Arivaa Sports, the league’s management partner, also said that the SCA had decided to conduct Saurashtra Pro T20 League Season 2 in 2026. Therefore, JMD Kutch Riders remain the latest verified champions of the competition.
Saurashtra Premier League Winners List
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Sorath Lions | Zalawad Royals |
| 2022 | Halar Heroes | Gohilwad Gladiators |
| 2023 | Kutch Warriors | Gohilwad Gladiators |
| 2024 | No completed edition | — |
| 2025 | JMD Kutch Riders | Anmol Kings Halar |
| 2026 | No completed edition | — |
The first three editions produced three different champions. Sorath Lions won in 2019, Halar Heroes in 2022 and Kutch Warriors in 2023. The competition then returned under the Saurashtra Pro T20 League name in 2025, when JMD Kutch Riders won the title.
Saurashtra Premier League Teams
The original SPL had five regional franchises:
- Sorath Lions
- Halar Heroes
- Gohilwad Gladiators
- Kutch Warriors
- Zalawad Royals
These five teams competed in the 2019, 2022 and 2023 editions.
The franchise names changed when the tournament became the Saurashtra Pro T20 League in 2025.
The five 2025 teams were:
- Anmol Kings Halar
- Aryan Sorath Lions
- Dita Gohilwad Titans
- JMD Kutch Riders
- Zalwad Strikers
The 2025 tournament retained the five-team structure while introducing new franchise identities.
Saurashtra Premier League Format
The original SPL used a league-stage format followed by a final.
Five teams competed in a round-robin league, with the top two sides progressing to the final. This format was used during the early editions of the competition.
The 2025 Saurashtra Pro T20 League introduced a more expanded franchise structure. The five teams played a round-robin league before the knockout stage, which included semi-finals and a final. The SCA announced the tournament as a five-team competition with a round-robin stage followed by semi-finals and a grand final.
Saurashtra Pro T20 League 2025
The 2025 season marked an important change for the competition.
The Saurashtra Cricket Association relaunched the tournament as the Saurashtra Pro T20 League. The SCA said the new competition was designed to provide a stronger platform for emerging and established cricketers from Saurashtra and Kutch.
The season started on June 7 and the final was played on June 20 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
JMD Kutch Riders defeated Anmol Kings Halar by six wickets in the final. Halar scored 142 all out, while Kutch Riders chased the target in 17.3 overs.
The 2025 season also saw several matches affected by rain. One game was reduced to five overs per side, while other matches were abandoned or completed using revised conditions.
Key Players in the Saurashtra Premier League
The tournament has featured several notable Saurashtra cricketers over the years.
Chetan Sakariya
Chetan Sakariya was one of the standout players of the inaugural 2019 season.
He represented the Sorath Lions and was named Player of the Series after helping the team win the first SPL title. He also took three wickets in the final against Zalawad Royals.
Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat has been one of the most recognised Saurashtra players associated with the competition.
His domestic career with Saurashtra has made him an important figure in regional cricket, while the SPL has provided a platform for players from the same cricketing system.
Dharmendrasinh Jadeja
Dharmendrasinh Jadeja played a major role for Halar Heroes during their 2022 title-winning campaign.
He took three wickets in the final against Gohilwad Gladiators as Halar Heroes secured a 40-run victory.
Raxit Mehta
Raxit Mehta was the leading batter for the Gohilwad Gladiators in the 2023 final.
He scored 72 from 41 balls while chasing Kutch Warriors’ 157-run target, but his innings was not enough to prevent a 21-run defeat.
Harvik Desai
Harvik Desai hasthe Kutcheen an important name in Saurashtra cricket and featured in the competition’s franchise setup.
He scored 33 for Kutch Warriors in the 2023 final, helping his team make a strong start before eventually finishing on 156/7.
Saurashtra Premier League Venues
The main venue for the Saurashtra Premier League has been the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, formerly known as the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
The venue hosted the finals of the 2019, 2022 and 2023 editions. It also hosted the complete 2025 Saurashtra Pro T20 League.
The stadium is located in Khandheri, on the outskirts of Rajkot, and is the home venue of Saurashtra cricket.
Why the Saurashtra Premier League Matters
The league gives cricketers from Saurashtra and Kutch an additional opportunity to play competitive T20 cricket.
The Saurashtra Cricket Association has positioned the Pro T20 League as a platform for both emerging and established players. The association has also said the competition can help develop the region’s cricketing talent and provide a stronger connection between players, franchises and fans.
The tournament has also provided a platform for players who later gained wider recognition in Indian domestic and franchise cricket.
Saurashtra Premier League 2026 Status
The 2026 season should not be confused with the 2025 Saurashtra Pro T20 League.
The 2026 competition was initially planned for June but was postponed by the Saurashtra Cricket Association because of fuel-price and travel-cost concerns. An August window was later announced as the intended period for the tournament.
However, there is no reliable completed 2026 match record or confirmed champion in the sources available as of September 26, 2026.
Therefore, the latest verified title winner is JMD Kutch Riders, who won the 2025 Saurashtra Pro T20 League.
Saurashtra Premier League at a Glance
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Saurashtra Premier League |
| Short Name | SPL |
| Governing Body | Saurashtra Cricket Association |
| Region | Saurashtra and Kutch, Gujarat |
| Format | T20 |
| First Season | 2019 |
| 2019 Champion | Sorath Lions |
| 2022 Champion | Halar Heroes |
| 2023 Champion | Kutch Warriors |
| 2025 Name | Saurashtra Pro T20 League |
| 2025 Champion | JMD Kutch Riders |
| 2025 Runner-up | Anmol Kings Halar |
| Main Venue | Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot |
The Saurashtra Premier League has evolved from a five-team regional T20 competition into the franchise-based Saurashtra Pro T20 League. Sorath Lions, Halar Heroes and Kutch Warriors won the first three editions, while JMD Kutch Riders became champions after the 2025 relaunch. The 2026 edition was postponed, and no completed 2026 season or champion has been reliably confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When did the Saurashtra Premier League start?
A. The first season was played in 2019.
Q. Who won the first Saurashtra Premier League?
A. Sorath Lions won the inaugural title in 2019.
Q. Who won the Saurashtra Premier League in 2023?
A. Kutch Warriors won the 2023 title.
Q. Who won the Saurashtra Pro T20 League in 2025?
A. JMD Kutch Riders won the 2025 title.
Q. Where is the Saurashtra Premier League played?
A. The main venue is Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
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