The Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) 2026 player draft has been completed, with all seven men's franchises and four women's franchises finalising their squads ahead of the tournament set to run from 21 September to 1 October at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Raipur, Dehradun. Among the headline moves, Rishikesh River Kings secured Akash Madhwal, the fast bowler who served as Chennai Super Kings' replacement player in IPL 2026.

Icon Players Across the Seven Men's Franchises

Each of the seven men's sides has been anchored by a prominent Uttarakhand cricketer as their icon player. USN Indians have retained Suchith J, while Nainital Tigers will be led by Avneesh Sudha. Yuvraj Choudhary has joined Haridwar Elmas, and Tejasvi Jaiswal has been assigned to Tehri Titans. Dehradun Warriors count on Kunal Chandela, and Mayank Mishra will carry the icon tag for Pithoragarh Hurricanes. Madhwal's signing by Rishikesh River Kings completes the set, giving each franchise a bankable name around whom to build.

Each squad has been assembled with a deliberate mix — senior players, Under-23 and Under-19 cricketers, uncapped local talent, and established icon players — in keeping with the league's development mandate.

What Officials Said About the Draft

Kiran Verma, Secretary of the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU), said the draft had pooled strong talent from across the state. 'The Players' Draft has brought together a strong pool of talent from across Uttarakhand and gives our players an important platform to compete at a high level. The UPL has grown with every edition, and with both senior and emerging players coming together, we are looking forward to an exciting third season,' Kiran said.

Former BCCI Vice-President and former CAU Secretary Mahim Verma underlined the league's relevance to individual career trajectories, noting that with the IPL auction cycle approaching, UPL 2026 could serve as a critical showcase. 'With the IPL auction cycle approaching, this tournament can be an important platform for players to showcase their abilities through their performances,' Mahim said.

UPL Chairperson Sunil Joshi credited the draft format itself for adding excitement. 'The Players' Draft has added another layer of excitement to UPL 2026. Each team has put together its squad with a combination of experienced players and young talent, which reflects the depth available in Uttarakhand cricket,' Joshi said.

Women's Competition Returns for Third Edition

The women's draw brings together four franchises — Mussoorie Queens, Bageshwar Aerial, Pithoragarh Hurricanes, and Dehradun Warriors. Icon players for the women's sides are Prema Rawat (Bageshwar Aerial), Raghvi Bist (Pithoragarh Hurricanes), Nandini Kashyap (Mussoorie Queens), and Sweta Verma (Dehradun Warriors), with Sweta also set to captain her side.

The inclusion of a women's competition alongside the men's event marks a continued broadening of the UPL's scope in its third year.

Tournament Details and What to Watch

All matches will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Dehradun between 21 September and 1 October 2026. With Madhwal fresh from IPL exposure and several young uncapped players seeking a launchpad before the next auction window, the competitive stakes across both competitions are notably higher than in previous editions.