Gulbarga Mystics gears up for Maharaja Trophy 2026
The fifth edition of the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) T20 tournament, the Maharaja Trophy, will be held in Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru from June
The fifth edition of the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) T20 tournament, the Maharaja Trophy, will be held in Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru from June 20 to July 12. Gulbarga Mystics, champions of the inaugural edition in 2022, unveiled its new jersey and announced its squad for the tournament at a joint press conference organised by the franchise and KSCA in Kalaburagi on Tuesday. Players were introduced at the event where the team also launched an environment initiative by distributing saplings. Representing Kalaburagi, Raichur and other parts of North Karnataka, Gulbarga Mystics has reached the knockout stage in every edition of the tournament so far.
The franchise has named a 20-member squad for this season, including 18 players selected through auction and two from its catchment area. A former India batter Manish Pandey has been retained as the team’s marquee player for ₹12.75 lakh. The squad also includes Karnataka all-rounder Macneil Noronha who recently signed with Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2026, wicketkeeper-batter B.R. Sharath and domestic players Ronit Gajanan More and Melu Kranthi Kumar. The franchise is owned by Chancellor of Khaja Bandanawaz University Syed Mohammed Ali Al Husseini, Syed Mustafa Al Husseini and Mir Rahoofuddin Ali Khan. Neil Michael Joseph and Mahesh Hariharan have joined the ownership group this season.
A former Karnataka all-rounder Akhil Balachandra is the team’s mentor, while Kunal Kapoor is the head coach and K.V. Siddharth the fielding coach. Speaking at the event, KSCA vice-president Sujith Somasundar said that the tournament provides an opportunity for young players from both rural and urban areas. “The Maharaja Trophy gives young cricketers a chance to play alongside senior players and improve their skills,” he said. Kushal Patil, coordinator for the Raichur zone, said that the tournament can help talented players progress to the IPL and the Indian team. Green initiative The franchise announced an environment campaign linked to the team’s performance during the tournament.
Neil Michael Joseph said that six saplings will be planted for every six scored by the team and four saplings for every boundary. The plantation drive will be carried out in Challakere of Chitradurga district. The team will also place water bowls for birds and animals in Kalaburagi for every wicket taken during the tournament. Local talent Young players from the Raichur region, including Sheethal Kumar, Santosh Hatti and Tippareddy, have been included in the squad. The franchise said that the selection of local players reflects its commitment to promoting cricket talent from North Karnataka.
The BriefWire