Chambal Ghariyals booked their place in the final of the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 with an 11-run victory over Jabalpur Royal Lions in a gripping semifinal at Holkar Stadium, Indore, on 27 June 2025. All-rounder Aman Bhadoriya proved decisive with both bat and ball, anchoring a late batting surge and then breaking a dangerous opening stand to swing the contest Chambal's way.

Chambal's Innings: A Shaky Build, a Stunning Finish

Batting first, Chambal Ghariyals posted 213/8 in their 20 overs. Openers Ankush Singh and Harsh Dixit laid a platform with a 39-run first-wicket stand before Ankush was dismissed for a rapid 29 off 14 balls. Shubham Sharma joined Dixit and the pair added 42 runs for the second wicket, with Dixit doing most of the damage before falling just short of a half-century at 48 off 24 balls.

The middle order struggled to convert starts into substantial knocks, and wickets fell at regular intervals. With the score at 170/7 in the 18th over, the innings was in danger of falling short. Bhadoriya had other ideas. The all-rounder launched an explosive cameo of 30 off 14 deliveries, clearing the boundary repeatedly to push Chambal past the 200-run mark and set a challenging target.

Jabalpur's Chase: A Flying Start, a Fatal Collapse

Jabalpur Royal Lions began the chase with remarkable intent. Openers Aryan Tiwari and the in-form Ajay Rohera combined for a 105-run first-wicket partnership that had the Lions firmly in the driver's seat. The stand was finally broken in the 11th over when Bhadoriya trapped Rohera lbw for a well-made 44 off 33 balls — a wicket that shifted the momentum decisively.

Vedant Awasthi followed quickly, caught in the deep for 7 off 5. Ritik Tada then attempted to accelerate before being dismissed for 14 off 8 balls, with Avesh Khan taking a sharp catch in the deep, leaving Jabalpur at 127/3 in 12.5 overs.

Tactical Gamble and the Decisive Final Over

In a notable tactical call, the Lions retired Tiwari — who had scored a composed 51 off 34 balls — and sent Sanjog Nijjar to the crease in search of a late acceleration. The move backfired when skipper Rahul Batham was run out for 7 off 7 following a mid-pitch mix-up, leaving the chase in serious jeopardy.

Nijjar fought valiantly, keeping Jabalpur in the hunt, but the equation ultimately came down to 20 runs off the final over. Chambal captain handed the ball to spinner Mayur Patel, who responded under pressure with a composed over, conceding just 8 runs and dismissing the dangerous Nijjar for 26 off 17. Patel finished with figures of 2/30 from 3 overs, while Bhadoriya returned 1/22 from 4 overs.

Bhadoriya Reflects on a Match-Winning Display

Speaking after the win, Bhadoriya credited collective resolve. 'It was a complete team effort. The plan from the dressing room was clear — we wanted to bat deep and take the game till the final overs,' he said. 'Although we couldn't quite finish the innings the way we wanted, getting past the 200-run mark gave us a strong platform. Personally, I'm very happy with my contribution because the team needed a big score and I was able to play my part.'

On his bowling spell, he added: 'With the ball, I didn't start as well as I would have liked, but I knew I had to trust my skills and make a comeback. The wicket was offering some assistance for the spinners, and once I adjusted my lengths, things started falling into place.' Bhadoriya signed off with a clear eye on what comes next: 'Reaching the final again is a great feeling, but our focus remains the same — we have one more game to go, and our aim is simple: to win the tournament and bring home the trophy.'

Chambal Ghariyals will now await their opponents in the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 final, carrying the momentum of a hard-fought semifinal triumph.