Indore Pink Panthers registered their first victory in the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026 on 9 June, defeating the Malwa Stallions by 31 runs at Holkar Stadium, Indore. Captain Venkatesh Iyer and Shivam Shukla were the standout performers, with Iyer blazing a 54 off 22 balls and Shukla claiming a five-wicket haul to seal a dominant win.

Panthers Post Massive 229/5

The Panthers' innings got off to a shaky start when opener Siddharth Patidar was dismissed for just 2 off 10 balls. Wicketkeeper-batter Atharv Joshi and Karan Tahliyani steadied the ship with a brisk 44-run partnership. Joshi played an aggressive knock of 45 off 20 deliveries before departing, while Tahliyani went on to anchor the innings and complete a well-made half-century.

Despite a mid-innings wobble that left the Panthers at 131/4 in the 15th over, Iyer's arrival alongside Saransh Surana transformed the match. The pair launched a ferocious assault on the Stallions' bowling attack, dominating the final overs with clean, powerful hitting.

Iyer smashed 54 off 22 balls, an innings featuring six sixes and a boundary, while Surana remained unbeaten on 50 off just 17 deliveries, hammering five sixes and three fours. Their explosive partnership pushed the total to a daunting 229/5. For the Stallions, captain Ashutosh Sharma was the most economical bowler, returning figures of 1 for 32 from his four overs.

Shukla's Five-Wicket Haul Seals the Chase

In reply, the Stallions never truly threatened the target. Roshan Kewat struck early, dismissing Aryan Deshmukh for 10 off 5 balls. Ansh Yadav and Sachin Vishwakarma attempted a revival with a 55-run partnership — Yadav scoring a quick 31 off 19 and Vishwakarma contributing a fighting 47 off 32 — but the Panthers' bowlers ripped through the middle order to leave the Stallions reeling at 144/7.

Parth Sahani provided some late entertainment with a spirited 54 off 28 balls, but the required run-rate had climbed beyond reach by then. The Stallions finished at 198/9, falling 31 runs short. Shivam Shukla was the pick of the Panthers' bowlers, claiming a brilliant five-wicket haul to wrap up the victory.

What Iyer Said After the Win

Reflecting on the Panthers' first points of the tournament, skipper Iyer said, 'It's great to get our first win of the tournament and collect those two important points. But I feel we left at least 20 more runs out there with the bat. We probably had the opportunity to win by a much bigger margin.'

On fielding lapses, Iyer was candid: 'Fielding is an area we need to improve as well. Some catches were difficult because the ball was swirling under the lights, but I don't want to make excuses. I dropped a straightforward chance myself, so I take responsibility for that.'

On his own innings, he added: 'I felt I could have started better. Once I got set, I knew which areas of the ground I wanted to target and tried to stick to my plans. It was a well-planned innings and I'm happy that I could contribute to the team's victory. Most importantly, it was nice to see smiles on the faces of the players and support staff after our first win.'

What's Next for the Panthers

The Indore Pink Panthers will next face the Rewa Jaguars at Daly College on Wednesday, looking to build on this momentum and consolidate their position in the MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026 standings.