MPL Teams Gear Up With Inter-State Practice Battles Ahead of Season 3

Litha.Achari

Indore: With just eight days remaining for the start of Madhya Pradesh League Season 3, franchises have intensified preparations by taking on champion teams from other state T20 leagues and competitive club sides, turning pre-season camps into high-pressure contests ahead of the tournament in Indore.

Rewa Jaguars, semifinalists from the previous season, are currently training in Mumbai where players are preparing in difficult heat and humid conditions to improve fitness and adaptability before returning to Holkar Stadium for their opening match against Bundelkhand Bulls on June 6. The team has been playing practice matches against Royal Maratha, champions of the Mumbai T20 League, as part of its build-up to the season.

Team owner Alok Birla said the idea behind the Mumbai camp was to expose players to tougher conditions and quality opposition before the MPL begins. The squad includes several IPL and Ranji Trophy players, with Akshat Raghuvanshi joining the team after returning from IPL duties with the Lucknow franchise. Left-arm spinner Sagar Solanki has been leading the side during the practice fixtures.

The Jaguars’ support staff includes former Ranji cricketer Udit Birla as mentor, while Sumit Dogra and former Indore Ranji captain Amitabh Vijayvargiya are handling coaching responsibilities. Rajusingh Chauhan and Devashish Nilose are also working with the team during the practice phase.

Meanwhile, Indore Pink Panthers have also adopted an aggressive preparation strategy by organising a three-match practice series against NECO Master Blasters, champions of the Vidarbha Pro T20 League, at Gymkhana Ground. The franchise sees the series as an important platform to assess combinations, improve match temperament, and create momentum before the MPL campaign begins.

Indore Pink Panthers’ Director of Cricket, Sandeep Jain said, “Our squad has players from different parts of Madhya Pradesh, so developing coordination and understanding the right roles for every player is extremely important before the league begins. We had earlier played practice matches against Rewa Jaguars, but later felt that facing a strong team from another state would provide better exposure. That is why we invited NECO Master Blasters from Nagpur for this three-match series at Gymkhana Ground in Indore. These games will help players understand match situations, improve combinations, and build better on-field understanding ahead of the MPL season.”

Apart from these marquee practice clashes, several other MPL franchises are also playing warm-up matches against leading club teams in cities such as Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Indore. Teams have focused on match simulations, powerplay strategies and death-over combinations during these camps, with coaches preferring competitive game situations over routine net sessions.

With franchises choosing stronger opposition and intensive preparation schedules this year, MPL Season 3 is expected to witness a sharper and more competitive brand of cricket from the opening week itself.