Bhopal Leopards squad for MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 revealed
Synopsis
Defending champions Bhopal Leopards have named their squad for the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 — the biggest edition yet, with 10 men's teams and 5 women's franchises. The Leopards, backed by HMG Sports, open their title defence against Indore Pink Panthers on June 4 at Holkar Stadium as the tournament kicks off on June 3.
Key Takeaways
Bhopal Leopards have announced an 18-member squad for the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 .
The Leopards open their title defence against Indore Pink Panthers on 4 June at Holkar Stadium, Indore .
The tournament begins on 3 June with Gwalior Cheetahs vs Ujjain Falcons .
MPL 2026 is the largest edition yet, featuring 10 men's teams and 5 women's franchises .
Three new men's franchises added: Malwa Stallions , Ujjain Falcons , and Royal Nimar Eagles .
Priyanshu Shukla is approved as a match-to-match replacement for Mohd.
Defending champions Bhopal Leopards have unveiled their 18-member squad for the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026, with the side featuring promising talents Aniket Verma and Mohd. Arshad Khan. The Leopards open their title defence against Indore Pink Panthers on 4 June in the evening fixture at Holkar Stadium, Indore.
MPL 2026: Biggest Edition Yet
The new season of the MPL T20 Scindia Cup gets underway on 3 June, with Gwalior Cheetahs facing Ujjain Falcons in the tournament's opening men's match at Holkar Stadium. This edition is the largest in the competition's history, expanding to 10 men's teams and five women's franchises.
Three new franchises have been added to the men's draw — Malwa Stallions, Ujjain Falcons, and Royal Nimar Eagles — who join the Leopards alongside Bundelkhand Bulls, Chambal Ghariyals, Gwalior Cheetahs, Indore Pink Panthers, Jabalpur Royal Lions, and Rewa Jaguars.
Women's Competition Also Expands
The women's tournament has grown to five teams with the addition of Gwalior Shernis and Royal Nimar Eagles, who will compete alongside Bhopal Wolves, Bundelkhand Bulls, and Chambal Ghariyals. The expanded women's field signals the league's intent to broaden its footprint across Madhya Pradesh.
Leopards Management Confident Ahead of Campaign
Abhishek Mohan Gupta of HMG Sports, the franchise owner, expressed confidence in the assembled group. 'The squad has been built with a strong balance of experienced and talented young players. We are very excited about the upcoming season and are confident that the team will play an aggressive and positive brand of cricket. MPL has become a fantastic platform for players to showcase their abilities, and we are looking forward to a successful campaign this year,' he said.
Full Squad
The Bhopal Leopards squad reads: Ajay Mishra, Amol Kasture, Anchit Singh Thakur, Aniket Verma, Ansh Bagadia, Anurag Malviya, Himanshu Shinde, Kamal Tripathi, Kunal Rai, Manish Kumar, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Pawan Nirwani, Pranjul Puri, Priyanshu Shukla, Rahul Chandrol, Suraj Yadav, Taanishq Yadav, and Yuvraj Nema. Priyanshu Shukla has been approved as a match-to-match replacement for Mohd. Arshad Khan.
With the defending champions lining up a blend of youth and experience, all eyes will be on whether the Leopards can retain the Scindia Cup when the tournament concludes later this month.
Point of View
Defending a title in a larger, more competitive field is a stiffer test than past editions. The real story here is whether state leagues of this scale can consistently convert local talent into players who knock on Ranji and IPL doors — that pipeline, not the trophy, is the lasting metric.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Bhopal Leopards play their first match in MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026?
Bhopal Leopards open their campaign on 4 June against Indore Pink Panthers in the evening match at Holkar Stadium, Indore. They are the defending champions of the tournament.
Who are the new teams in MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026?
Three new franchises have joined the men's draw: Malwa Stallions, Ujjain Falcons, and Royal Nimar Eagles. On the women's side, Gwalior Shernis and Royal Nimar Eagles are the new additions, taking the women's field to five teams.
When does MPL 2026 begin and where?
The MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 begins on 3 June with Gwalior Cheetahs taking on Ujjain Falcons at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
What is the full Bhopal Leopards squad for MPL 2026?
The 18-member squad is: Ajay Mishra, Amol Kasture, Anchit Singh Thakur, Aniket Verma, Ansh Bagadia, Anurag Malviya, Himanshu Shinde, Kamal Tripathi, Kunal Rai, Manish Kumar, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Pawan Nirwani, Pranjul Puri, Priyanshu Shukla, Rahul Chandrol, Suraj Yadav, Taanishq Yadav, and Yuvraj Nema. Priyanshu Shukla is approved as a match-to-match replacement for Mohd. Arshad Khan.
Who owns the Bhopal Leopards franchise?
The Bhopal Leopards are owned by HMG Sports. Abhishek Mohan Gupta, representing the franchise, expressed confidence in the squad's balance of experience and youth ahead of the 2026 season.
