Punja's 4-30 powers Shivamogga Yodhas to 90-run win in Maharaja Trophy T20 opener
Synopsis
Yash Raj Punja, the leg-spinner who turned heads for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, delivered a match-defining 4 for 30 on Day 1 of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, as Shivamogga Yodhas crushed Mysore Warriors by 90 runs. A 79-run opening stand set the platform; Punja and the Karnataka seamers did the rest.
Key Takeaways
Shivamogga Yodhas beat Mysore Warriors by 90 runs in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 opener at Mysuru on 20 June .
Yash Raj Punja claimed 4 for 30 in 3.5 overs , including 2 wickets in his opening over .
Luvnith Sisodia (58 off 38) and Tushar Singh (33 off 21) put on 79 runs for the opening wicket.
Mysore Warriors were reduced to 5 down for under 50 inside 8 overs and bowled out for 100 in 14.5 overs .
Bengaluru Blasters also won on the day, chasing down 202 against Gulbarga Mystics by 6 wickets .
Shivamogga Yodhas opened their Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 campaign in commanding fashion on 20 June at Mysuru, dismantling Mysore Warriors by 90 runs in the second match of the day. Young leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja, fresh from his impact-player stint with Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 IPL, was the wrecker-in-chief, finishing with a brilliant 4 for 30 in 3.5 overs.
Yodhas Set a Stiff Target
Asked to bat first, Shivamogga Yodhas were propelled by a blazing opening stand of 79 runs in 6.5 overs between Luvnith Sisodia and Tushar Singh. Sisodia was the standout, crafting a fine 58 off 38 balls laced with eight boundaries and a six, his timing and placement drawing early applause.
Tushar Singh contributed a brisk 33 off 21 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes, keeping the pressure on Warriors' bowlers throughout the powerplay.
Skipper Smaran Ravichandran and Harshil Dharmani then steadied the middle overs, each contributing 36 runs. Smaran's 27-ball knock featured five boundaries, while Dharmani's explosive 19-ball cameo included two fours and three sixes. The lower order could not sustain the momentum, leaving the Yodhas at 190 for 8 in 20 overs — a competitive but not insurmountable total. Vyshak Vijaykumar and Manoj Bhandage claimed two wickets each for the Warriors.
Warriors Collapse Under Pressure
Chasing 191, the Mysore Warriors never settled. Left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty and left-arm spinner Shreesha Achar combined to devastating effect in the early overs, reducing the Warriors to five wickets down with fewer than 50 runs on the board inside eight overs.
Only S U Karthik (16) and Ritesh Bhatkal (17) offered any resistance among the top order. By the 10th over, Warriors had slumped to 60 for 7, effectively ending the contest.
Punja's Match-Winning Spell
It was Punja who applied the final, ruthless touches. The young leg-spinner claimed two wickets in his opening over for just five runs, sending shockwaves through an already rattled batting order. He returned to dismiss the last man, Vyshak, leg before wicket, completing figures of 4 for 30 in 3.5 overs. Abhilash Shetty finished with 2 for 10 and Shreesha Achar with 2 for 9. The Warriors were bowled out for 100 in 14.5 overs.
Bengaluru Blasters Win the Opener
In the day's first match, Bengaluru Blasters chased down 202 against Gulbarga Mystics with six wickets in hand. Prakhar Chaturvedi (64) and Aarav Mahesh (63) had powered the Mystics to 201 for 5, but the Blasters responded through Bhuvan Mohan Raju (56) and a composed lower-order contribution from Praveen Dubey (32 not out) to seal a thrilling victory.
Brief Scores
Shivamogga Yodhas 190-8 in 20 overs (Sisodia 58, Tushar Singh 33, Smaran Ravichandran 36, Harshil Dharmani 36; Vyshak Vijaykumar 2-38, Manoj Bhandage 2-16) beat Mysore Warriors 100 all out in 14.5 overs (SU Karthik 16, Ritesh Bhatkal 17; Abhilash Shetty 2-10, Shreesha Achar 2-9, Yash Raj Punja 4-30) by 90 runs.
Gulbarga Mystics 201-5 in 20 overs (Prakhar Chaturvedi 64, Aarav Mahesh 63; Shubhang Hegde 2-44, Shreevathsa Acharya 2-36) lost to Bengaluru Blasters 202-4 in 20 overs (Bhuvan Mohan Raju 56, Praveen Dubey 32 not out; Paras Gurbax Arya 2-34) by 6 wickets.
The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 continues with further group-stage fixtures across Karnataka in the coming days.
Point of View
But the more revealing story is the Warriors' batting collapse — five wickets for under 50 runs against a mix of pace and spin signals a structural fragility that will haunt them through the group stage. Sisodia's 58 off 38 showed the Yodhas have match-winners beyond the bowling unit. The Maharaja Trophy has historically been a proving ground for Karnataka's next generation, and Punja's 4-30 on debut day underlines why IPL franchises scout this tournament closely.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 match between Shivamogga Yodhas and Mysore Warriors?
Shivamogga Yodhas won by 90 runs, bowling out Mysore Warriors for 100 in 14.5 overs while defending a total of 190 for 8. It was the Yodhas' first match of the tournament.
How did Yash Raj Punja perform in the Maharaja Trophy opener?
Punja claimed 4 for 30 in 3.5 overs, taking 2 wickets in his very first over for just 5 runs. He finished the Warriors' innings by dismissing the last man, Vyshak, leg before wicket.
Who top-scored for Shivamogga Yodhas in their innings?
Luvnith Sisodia top-scored with 58 off 38 balls, hitting eight boundaries and a six. Skipper Smaran Ravichandran and Harshil Dharmani also contributed 36 each in the middle overs.
What happened in the first match between Bengaluru Blasters and Gulbarga Mystics?
Bengaluru Blasters chased down 202 to beat Gulbarga Mystics by six wickets. Bhuvan Mohan Raju scored 56 and Praveen Dubey finished unbeaten on 32, while Prakhar Chaturvedi (64) and Aarav Mahesh (63) had earlier starred for the Mystics.
Where is the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 being held?
The opening day fixtures were held in Mysuru, Karnataka. The tournament is organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and features teams from across the state.
