The Vidarbha Premier League (VPL) 2026 runs from 1 June to 14 June 2026 at VCA Stadium, Jamtha in Nagpur, packing 25 T20 matches into a tight 14-day window.
Six franchises chase the title, with every game shown live on Sony TEN 5 and JioHotstar. Furthermore, the action begins with NECO Master Blaster taking on Pagariya Strikers in the opener.
Below is the complete VPL 2026 schedule, venue, broadcast and team details, as confirmed by the VCA.
VPL 2026 Key Information At A Glance
Before the first ball, here are the essential VPL 2026 facts every fan needs. Additionally, this snapshot covers dates, venues and broadcast partners in one place.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Vidarbha Premier League 2026 (Season 2) |
| Dates | 1 June – 14 June 2026 |
| Opener | NECO Master Blaster vs Pagariya Strikers, 1 June, 7:30 PM IST |
| Final | Sunday, 14 June 2026, 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue (Men’s) | VCA Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur |
| Venue (Women’s) | VCA Civil Lines Stadium, Nagpur |
| Total Matches | 25 (21 league + 4 playoffs) |
| Broadcast | Sony Sports Network (Sony TEN 5) |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Mascot | Waghoba (the Vidarbha tiger) |
| Defending Champion | NECO Master Blaster |
VPL 2026 Full Schedule: All 21 League Matches
Every team plays the other five once, and then the top sides progress to the playoffs. Moreover, the Jamtha venue hosts back-to-back doubleheaders on most days. The table below lists the complete Vidarbha Premier League 2026 fixtures with results updated as matches conclude.
| Match | Date | Time (IST) | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Jun 1 | 7:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs Pagariya Strikers | Pagariya Strikers won by 5 wickets |
| 2 | Tue, Jun 2 | 2:30 PM | India Warriors vs Nagpur Heroz | India Warriors won by 33 runs |
| 3 | Tue, Jun 2 | 7:30 PM | Bharat Rangers vs Orange Tigers | Bharat Rangers won by 6 wickets |
| 4 | Wed, Jun 3 | 2:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs India Warriors | Pagariya Strikers won by 3 wickets |
| 5 | Wed, Jun 3 | 7:30 PM | Orange Tigers vs Nagpur Heroz | Nagpur Heroz won by 10 runs |
| 6 | Thu, Jun 4 | 2:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs Bharat Rangers | Bharat Rangers won by 10 wickets |
| 7 | Thu, Jun 4 | 7:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs Nagpur Heroz | Nagpur Heroz won by 34 runs |
| 8 | Fri, Jun 5 | 2:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs Orange Tigers | Orange Tigers won by 54 runs |
| 9 | Fri, Jun 5 | 7:30 PM | Bharat Rangers vs India Warriors | Bharat Rangers won by 7 wickets |
| 10 | Sat, Jun 6 | 2:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs Orange Tigers | Pagariya Strikers won by 85 runs |
| 11 | Sat, Jun 6 | 7:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs India Warriors | India warriors won by 3 wickets |
| 12 | Sun, Jun 7 | 2:30 PM | Bharat Rangers vs Nagpur Heroz | Bharat Rangers won by 6 wickets |
| 13 | Sun, Jun 7 | 7:30 PM | Orange Tigers vs India Warriors | Orange Tigers won by 5 wickets |
| 14 | Mon, Jun 8 | 2:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs Nagpur Heroz | TBD |
| 15 | Mon, Jun 8 | 7:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs Bharat Rangers | TBD |
| 16 | Tue, Jun 9 | 2:30 PM | Orange Tigers vs Nagpur Heroz | TBD |
| 17 | Tue, Jun 9 | 7:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs Pagariya Strikers | TBD |
| 18 | Wed, Jun 10 | 2:30 PM | Bharat Rangers vs India Warriors | TBD |
| 19 | Wed, Jun 10 | 7:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs Orange Tigers | TBD |
| 20 | Thu, Jun 11 | 2:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs India Warriors | TBD |
| 21 | Thu, Jun 11 | 7:30 PM | Bharat Rangers vs Nagpur Heroz | TBD |
VPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
Subsequently, the top four teams enter a four-game knockout phase. As a result, the VPL 2026 Final on Sunday, 14 June, crowns the season-two champion under the Jamtha lights.
| Stage | Date | Time (IST) | Fixture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eliminator | Fri, Jun 12 | 2:30 PM | 3rd place vs 4th place |
| Qualifier 1 | Fri, Jun 12 | 7:30 PM | 1st place vs 2nd place |
| Qualifier 2 | Sat, Jun 13 | 7:30 PM | Winner Eliminator vs Loser Qualifier 1 |
| Final | Sun, Jun 14 | 7:30 PM | Winner Qualifier 1 vs Winner Qualifier 2 |
Six Teams Competing in Vidarbha Premier League 2026
Six franchises fight for the season-two crown. Notably, India Warriors join the lineup this year, replacing Nagpur Titans from the 2025 edition. Meanwhile, Nagpur Heroz retain India quick Umesh Yadav as their marquee name.
| Team | Captain | Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| NECO Master Blaster | Jitesh Sharma | Defending champions; led by India T20I keeper-batter |
| Pagariya Strikers | Yash Kadam | 2025 finalists; deep all-round Vidarbha core |
| Bharat Rangers | Atharva Taide | Featured 2025 leading scorer Danish Malewar |
| Orange Tigers | Darshan Nalkande | Pace-heavy unit built around Vidarbha quicks |
| Nagpur Heroz | Mandar Mahale | Anchored by Umesh Yadav and Yash Thakur |
| India Warriors | TBA | New franchise added for Season 2 |
VPL 2026 Tournament Format
The VPL 2026 format splits the men’s tournament across three phases. Consequently, the league grows significantly compared with the 2025 single round-robin model.
League Stage
First, every team plays the other five once. Therefore, this opening round produces 15 matches and sets early ladder positions.
Super League Round
Next, teams play two more matches each based on standings. As a result, the league total reaches 21 round-stage fixtures before knockouts begin.
Playoffs
Finally, four playoff games settle the title. Specifically, the Eliminator and Qualifier 1 form a Friday doubleheader on 12 June. Subsequently, Qualifier 2 follows on 13 June, and the Final closes the season on 14 June.
VPL 2026 Venue: VCA Stadium, Jamtha
Every men’s game takes place at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. Notably, this venue has previously hosted Test cricket and IPL fixtures, so the surface tends to favour stroke-makers under lights.
Additionally, the VCA Civil Lines Stadium runs the parallel women’s tournament from 7 June. Furthermore, both grounds sit within Nagpur city, which makes travel easy for fans.
Pitch Behaviour at Jamtha
Historically, the Jamtha pitch plays true with steady bounce. Consequently, totals above 180 stay chaseable, especially in evening matches when dew enters the conversation. Indeed, the opening fixture already produced 442 runs across 38.5 overs.
Where to Watch VPL 2026 Live: TV & Streaming
Fans across India can watch every VPL 2026 match live on Sony Sports Network, with the primary feed on Sony TEN 5. Moreover, the digital stream runs exclusively on JioHotstar for mobile and connected-TV viewers.
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Television (India) | Sony Sports Network – Sony TEN 5 |
| OTT / Live Streaming | JioHotstar app and web |
| Languages | English and Hindi commentary |
| Free Streaming | JioHotstar mobile (with Jio plans) |
Star Players to Watch in VPL 2026
The VPL 2026 player pool mixes India internationals with Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy-winning core. Therefore, scouts and Dream11 players treat this league as a useful preview of fringe IPL talent.
- Umesh Yadav (Nagpur Heroz) – India and Gujarat Titans pacer; over 170 international wickets
- Jitesh Sharma (NECO Master Blaster) – India T20I keeper-batter and RCB stalwart; defending VPL champion captain
- Atharva Taide (Bharat Rangers) – Punjab Kings top-order opener with strong IPL exposure
- Yash Thakur (Nagpur Heroz) – Lucknow Super Giants pacer with bounce and yorker control
- Karun Nair (Vidarbha middle order) – India returnee and triple-centurion in Test cricket
- Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha pool) – Left-arm spinner with a strong domestic T20 record
Defending Champions: NECO Master Blaster
Jitesh Sharma’s NECO Master Blaster arrive as the reigning champion after beating Pagariya Strikers in the inaugural final by seven wickets. However, the title defence has started poorly. Specifically, Pagariya Strikers chased down 220 in the opener and won by five wickets.
2025 Season Quick Recap
Last season, Danish Malewar of Bharat Rangers topped the run charts with 120 runs, while Pagariya’s Lalit Yadav led the wickets column with 13 scalps.