The Vidarbha Premier League (VPTL) has crowned two men’s champions and two women’s champions so far. NECO Master Blaster won the inaugural 2025 men’s title by beating Pagariya Strikers by 7 wickets in the final, while Pagariya Strikers took revenge in the 2026 final with an 8-run win over Bharat Rangers.
While Orange Tigresses lifted the inaugural 2025 trophy with a 16-run win over the Nagpur Titans on the same day. The 2026 edition wrapped up on June 14, 2026, with India Warriors claiming the women’s crown after a thrilling tournament.
This guide covers every Vidarbha Premier League winner, top performers, key final stats, and what went down in the action-packed 2026 season.
Vidarbha Premier League Winners List (All Seasons)
Here’s the complete VPTL champions list since the tournament launched under the Vidarbha Cricket Association in 2025.
| Season | Men’s Champion | Runner-up | Final Margin | Women’s Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | NECO Master Blaster | Pagariya Strikers | Won by 7 wickets | Orange Tigresses |
| 2026 | Pagariya Strikers | Bharat Rangers | Won by 8 runs | India Warriors |
Since the league is only in its second edition, the winners list is short. However, the inaugural season already produced some genuinely entertaining cricket at VCA Stadium, Jamtha.
VPTL 2025: NECO Master Blaster’s Title Triumph
NECO Master Blaster captured the inaugural Vidarbha Pro T20 League title on June 15, 2025, defeating Pagariya Strikers by seven wickets with 13 balls to spare. Skipper Jitesh Sharma, fresh off his RCB IPL 2025 stint, sealed the chase with a six off the last over he faced.
Interestingly, Pagariya Strikers had gone undefeated through the entire league stage. Their only loss came in the match that mattered most, a classic case of peaking too early.
How the 2025 Final Played Out
Pagariya Strikers batted first after losing the toss and posted 178/7 in 20 overs. Shivam Deshmukh anchored the innings with 82 off 45 balls (3 fours, 7 sixes, strike rate 182.22).
For NECO Master Blaster, Shanmesh Deshmukh ripped through the middle order with 3/37 and walked away with the Player of the Match award.
Chasing 179, opener Vedant Dighade hammered 80 not out off 52 balls (8 fours, 4 sixes) to lay the foundation. Aryan Meshram added a quickfire 42 off 26, and Jitesh Sharma finished it with a blistering 30* off 11 balls including three sixes and a four.
Final Scorecard Snapshot
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Top Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pagariya Strikers | 178/7 (20 ov) | Shivam Deshmukh – 82 (45) | R Sanjay – 1/20 |
| NECO Master Blaster | 179/3 (17.5 ov) | Vedant Dighade – 80* (52) | Shanmesh Deshmukh – 3/37 |
Result: NECO Master Blaster won by 7 wickets. Player of the Match: Shanmesh Deshmukh.
VPL 2026: Pagariya Strikers’ High-Scoring Glory
The Pagariya Strikers captured the second edition of the Vidarbha Premier League title on June 14, 2026, defeating the Bharat Rangers by 8 runs in an absolute run-fest. Skipper Yash Kadam led from the front, turning the game on its head during the death overs with a breathtaking, aggressive cameo.
Interestingly, the Bharat Rangers had beaten the Pagariya Strikers earlier in Qualifier 1. However, the Strikers fought through Qualifier 2 and exacted perfect revenge in the final when it mattered most.
How the 2026 Final Played Out
The Bharat Rangers won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Pagariya Strikers responded by constructing a massive total of 249/3 in their 20 overs. MD Faiz set a solid base with 70 runs off 48 balls, while Ravikumar Samarth anchored brilliantly with an unbeaten 90 off 47 deliveries. The real fireworks came from captain Yash Kadam, who smashed a blistering 73* off just 19 balls, including 9 massive sixes.
Chasing an enormous 250, the Bharat Rangers stuttered early, losing key top-order batsmen including captain Atharva Taide. Varun Bisht (56 off 21 balls) and Manan Agarwal (67 off 41 balls) launched a spectacular counter-attack to keep the chase alive. Despite their late-overs heroics pushing the team to 241/8, the Strikers’ bowling unit held their nerve to cross the finish line.
Final Scorecard Snapshot
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Top Bowler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pagariya Strikers | 249/3 (20 overs) | Ravikumar Samarth – 90 (47)* | Sooraj Rai – 1/35 (4 overs) |
| Bharat Rangers | 241/8 (20 overs) | Manan Agarwal – 67 (41) | Nachiket Bhute – 2/36 (4 overs) |
Women’s Champion: Orange Tigresses (2025)
Orange Tigresses lifted the inaugural women’s VPTL title on the same day as the men’s final, beating Nagpur Titans by 16 runs in Nagpur. The women’s draw featured four teams playing alongside the men’s tournament, giving Vidarbha’s female cricketers a rare franchise stage.
Honestly, more state associations should copy this dual-format model. It works.
Women’s Champion: India Warriors (2026)
India Warriors lifted the 2026 women’s Vidarbha Premier League (VPL) title on the same day as the men’s final, beating NECO Master Blaster by 4 wickets in Nagpur. The women’s draw featured four elite franchise teams playing alongside the men’s tournament, giving Vidarbha’s top female cricketers a high-stakes, prominent stage.
Top Performers From VPTL 2025
Here are the inaugural season’s award winners and stat leaders:
| Category | Player | Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Runs | Aryan Meshram | NECO Master Blaster | 358 runs |
| Most Wickets | Lalit Yadav | Pagariya Strikers | 13 wickets |
| Most Sixes | Aryan Meshram | NECO Master Blaster | 18 sixes |
| Best Bowling Figures | Lalit Yadav | Pagariya Strikers | 5/11 |
| Highest Individual Score | Danish Malewar | Bharat Rangers | 120 (vs Nagpur Titans) |
| Best Strike Rate | Varun Bisht | Bharat Rangers | 212.31 |
Furthermore, Aryan Meshram’s run-scoring consistency across the tournament made him arguably the most valuable player of the season, even though Shanmesh Deshmukh walked off with the final’s match award.
VPTL 2026: The Hunt for the Next Champion
Six teams are competing in VPTL 2026 NECO Master Blaster (defending champions), Pagariya Strikers, Bharat Rangers, India Warriors, Nagpur Heroz, and Orange Tigers. The tournament runs from June 1 to June 14, 2026, with all 21 league matches plus playoffs at VCA Stadium, Jamtha.
Notably, Jitesh Sharma is back to lead the defending champions, while Umesh Yadav turns out for Nagpur Heroz a serious upgrade in firepower from last year’s squads.
For the full fixture list, squads, and live streaming details, check the Vidarbha Premier League 2026 main hub.
Why the VPTL Matters for Indian Cricket
The Vidarbha Premier League sits in a sweet spot for domestic cricket. Specifically, it gives Ranji-winning Vidarbha stars like Atharva Taide, Danish Malewar, and Yash Thakur competitive T20 reps in front of selectors.
Moreover, the single-venue format at Jamtha, the same pitch where Vidarbha won back-to-back Ranji Trophy titles keeps logistics tight and crowds engaged.
Above all, it’s a feeder pipeline. Jitesh Sharma’s IPL trajectory shows what’s possible.
Conclusion: Hunt For New VPL Champions is Still On
The Vidarbha Premier League winners list currently reads: NECO Master Blaster (Men, 2025) and Orange Tigresses (Women, 2025).
With NECO defending their title in 2026 and contenders like Pagariya Strikers and Bharat Rangers gunning for revenge, the June 14 final should add a fresh name or repeat one to this list. Bookmark this page; we’ll update it the moment the 2026 trophy is lifted.