Increased matches, one more women’s team joins; event to take place in June
The second edition of the Vidarbha Premier League (VPL), organised by the Vidarbha Cricket Association, is set to take place in June with several exciting additions. At the launch event held on Friday, officials unveiled the league’s new brand identity, including its official logo, mascot, and season campaign—marking the beginning of a fresh and dynamic chapter in Vidarbha’s cricket journey.
This year’s women’s tournament will feature four teams—one more than last season—signaling a strong push toward inclusivity and balanced representation in regional cricket.
The Pagariya Group, which already owns the men’s team Pagariya Strikers, secured ownership of the additional women’s team through a transparent bidding process overseen by the VPL Governing Council, chaired by Prashant Vaidya. The women’s competition will now include six league matches and two knockout fixtures, comprising a Qualifier and the Final.
The men’s tournament will also see a significant expansion in its format. Each team will face every other team once in the league stage, followed by two matches each in the Super League before progressing to the Playoffs. The knockout stage will feature an Eliminator, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, and the Final. Women’s matches are likely to be held at the VCA Civil Lines Stadium, while the men’s matches will take place at the VCA Jamtha Stadium.
Speaking at the event, Prashant Vaidya said the launch of VPL Season 2 reinforces their commitment to elevating cricket in the region, nurturing talent, and engaging fans in meaningful ways, calling it “just the beginning of something truly special.”
VCA secretary Sanjay Badkas described the VPL as a vibrant festival of cricket filled with energy, entertainment, and unforgettable moments. He urged players to compete with courage, integrity, and joy, while appealing to fans to turn up in large numbers and make the tournament a grand sporting spectacle.
Franchise owners including Sanjay Agrawal, Inu Majumdar, Siddhesh Sharma, Rohit Agrawal, Ulhas Pagariya, Raj Pagariya, and Ramesh Jaiswal also shared their views on the occasion.
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