MPL T20 Scindia Cup: Parth Chaudhary's 107 powers Gwalior Cheetahs to 12-run win
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Parth Chaudhary's breathtaking 107 off 51 balls — the first century of the Aditya Birla Group Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026 season — propelled the Gwalior Cheetahs to a commanding 12-run victory over Bhopal Leopards at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on 5 June. The win marks a strong comeback for the Rajat Patidar-led side, who posted 220/8 in a match reduced to 18 overs per side due to a delayed start caused by wet outfield.
Chaudhary Sets the Platform
Parth Chaudhary came out swinging from the first ball, combining with opener Kartik Parihar to stitch together a blazing 90-run partnership in just 7.1 overs. Parihar contributed a brisk 35 off 22 balls before departing, but Chaudhary was in a different gear entirely. Despite the early loss of Kuldeep Gehi, the opener never relented.
Captain Rajat Patidar joined Chaudhary and the two dominated the Bhopal attack, forging a 79-run partnership. Patidar chipped in with a punchy 29 off 15 balls, while Chaudhary reached his century and eventually finished with 107 off 51 deliveries, laced with 7 sixes and 9 fours — a knock of rare authority in the season so far.
Late Fireworks Inflate the Total
The final overs brought further entertainment as Vikas Sharma and Arpit Patel unleashed some powerful hitting to push Gwalior Cheetahs past the 220-run mark. The total, set in a curtailed contest, proved to be a formidable ask for the Leopards.
Leopards Collapse and Recover, But Fall Short
Chasing 221, Bhopal Leopards got off to a steady start through openers Tanishq Yadav and Rahul Chandrol, who put on 46 runs for the first wicket. However, the innings dramatically unravelled as the Leopards crashed to 66/5 in just 6.1 overs after losing five wickets in three overs — a collapse that effectively decided the contest.
Pawan Nirwani and Pranjul Puri mounted a spirited fightback, adding a valuable 92-run partnership to reignite Bhopal's hopes. Ishan Afridi eventually broke the stand, dismissing Pranjul for a well-made 38 off 21 balls. Nirwani battled on to bring up a half-century, but the required run rate had climbed beyond reach. The Leopards were ultimately restricted to 208/7 in 18 overs, falling 12 runs short.
What This Result Means
The victory is a significant confidence boost for the Gwalior Cheetahs, who bounced back emphatically after an earlier setback in the tournament. Chaudhary's maiden T20 century in the competition announced his form at the right time, and the bowling unit's ability to defend a large total under pressure will give the side momentum heading into the next fixture of the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026.