Uttarakhand Premier League Kicks Off with Thrilling Women's Matches
Uttarakhand Premier League Launches at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
The third season of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) commenced on Monday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, featuring an exciting start with two women's matches. The opening day showcased victories for Dehradun Warriors and Mussoorie Queens, setting an exhilarating tone for this year's T20 tournament.
Dehradun Warriors Claim Opening Victory
In the first match, Dehradun Warriors opted to bowl after winning the toss against Pithoragarh Hurricanes. The Hurricanes struggled, managing only 84 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs, with Minakshi Joshi shining with the ball for Dehradun, taking three wickets. The Warriors chased down the target effortlessly, scoring 85 runs for 3 wickets in just 14.1 overs, marking a successful start to their UPL 2026 journey. Minakshi Joshi was honored as the Player of the Match for her outstanding all-round performance.
Mussoorie Queens Secure Rain-Affected Win
The second match featured Mussoorie Queens against Bageshwar Aerial. After winning the toss, Mussoorie chose to bowl first, and Bageshwar managed to set a competitive score of 108 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs. However, rain disrupted the chase, and Mussoorie Queens reached 62 runs for 1 wicket in just nine overs, winning by the DLS method. Roshni Danu was named Player of the Match for her pivotal role in the chase.
Mussoorie Queens' captain, Nandini Kashyap, reflected on the challenging conditions, stating, "The pitch was not looking very good after the rain. The ball was staying low and there wasn’t much movement. We noticed that most of their batters were playing across the line, so we decided to play with a straight bat. Aarti executed our plan excellently, converting opportunities into boundaries."
Exciting Opening Ceremony and Upcoming Matches
The day's cricketing events will be followed by a grand opening ceremony featuring Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor, along with performances that celebrate the rich musical heritage of Uttarakhand.
The women's competition will continue on Tuesday with another double-header, while the men's segment of UPL 2026 will kick off in the evening, featuring Haridwar Elmas against Nainital Tigers at 7:30 PM. The women's league includes four teams: Mussoorie Queens, Bageshwar Aerial, Pithoragarh Hurricanes, and Dehradun Warriors, while the men's league consists of seven teams. The tournament is set to run until October 1, culminating in the men's UPL 2026 Final on the last day.