Rajat Patidar vs Ashutosh Sharma to Open Record-Breaking MPL Season in Indore

Indore: Madhya Pradesh’s star batters Rajat Patidar and Ashutosh Sharma are set to headline the opening match of the Madhya Pradesh League on June 3 in Indore.Patidar, who is leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, will captain Gwalior Cheetahs against Ashutosh Sharma’s Ujjain Falcons at Holkar Stadium, kicking off the league’s biggest edition so far.The opening fixture, scheduled from 7.30 pm onwards, is expected to draw strong crowd interest with two of the state’s most prominent IPL names facing each other.The clash will mark the beginning of the biggest MPL season so far, with a record 48 matches lined up between June 3 and the final on June 26. All matches will be hosted in Indore, with most fixtures scheduled at Holkar Stadium while 10 matches will also be played at Daly College Cricket Ground. The packed calendar will make it the longest edition of the league since its inception in 2024.This year’s edition marks a major jump in scale for the tournament. Last season, hosted in Gwalior, featured 24 T20 matches across 13 days with seven teams in action. Bhopal Leopards emerged champions in the 2025 edition.The 2026 season has nearly doubled in size with more teams, additional fixtures and a longer schedule aimed at strengthening the league’s reach across the state. Apart from Rajat Patidar and Ashutosh Sharma, the MPL will also feature several other IPL cricketers from the state, including Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Sen, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Madhav Tiwari, Shivang Kumar and Mangesh Yadav. Their presence is expected to further raise the tournament’s profile and give local fans an opportunity to watch several established and emerging T20 players in action on home turf.“MPL has grown significantly in a very short span. With the increase in the number of teams and matches this season, we have planned fixtures across two venues to ensure smooth conduct of the tournament and proper wicket management. Most matches will be played at Holkar Stadium, while some games have been scheduled at Daly College Cricket Ground to give the Holkar wicket adequate rest during the long schedule,” MPL CEO, Ravi Patankar told TOI.The men’s competition will feature 10 teams this season, including Indore Pink Panthers, Bhopal Leopards, Jabalpur Royal Lions, Rewa Jaguars, Bundelkhand Bulls, Chambal Ghariyals, Malwa Stallions and Royal Nimar Eagles besides Gwalior Cheetahs and Ujjain Falcons. Women’s matches will also be held during the same tournament window with five participating teams, including new entrants Gwalior Shernis and Royal Nimar Eagles.Since its launch, the MPL has steadily grown into a major platform for emerging cricketers from Madhya Pradesh, with several players earning IPL opportunities through standout performances in the league.