Vidarbha Premier League (VPL) 2026: Schedule, Teams & Venues
The Vidarbha Premier League (VPL) 2026 runs from 1 June to 14 June 2026 at the VCA Stadium, Jamtha in Nagpur, with 25 T20 matches spread across 14 nights.
Six franchises – NECO Master Blaster, Pagariya Strikers, Bharat Rangers, Orange Tigers, Nagpur Heroz and the new India Warriors – chase the VPL 2026 trophy. Moreover, every fixture airs live on Sony TEN 5 and streams on JioHotstar, as confirmed by VCA.
VPL 2026 Full Schedule: All 21 League Matches
Below is the complete VPL 2026 league-stage schedule. Each team plays the other five once, after which the top sides progress to the Super League round and then the playoffs. Furthermore, every fixture starts on time at the VCA Jamtha Stadium.
| Match No. | Date | Time | 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 | TBD |
| 9 | Fri, Jun 5 | 7:30 PM | Bharat Rangers vs India Warriors | TBD |
| 10 | Sat, Jun 6 | 2:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs Orange Tigers | TBD |
| 11 | Sat, Jun 6 | 7:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs India Warriors | TBD |
| 12 | Sun, Jun 7 | 2:30 PM | Bharat Rangers vs Nagpur Heroz | TBD |
| 13 | Sun, Jun 7 | 7:30 PM | Orange Tigers vs India Warriors | TBD |
| 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 |
VPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
Subsequently, the top four sides battle for the title across four knockout games. As a result, the VPL 2026 Final on Sunday, 14 June, will crown the new champion under the Jamtha lights.
| Stage | Date | Time | 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 Q1 |
| Final | Sun, Jun 14 | 7:30 PM | Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2 |
VPL 2026 Key Information at a Glance
Here are the essential VPL 2026 facts every fan needs before the first ball. Additionally, this table covers the dates, venues and broadcast partners in one place.
| Details | Info |
|---|---|
| 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 Teams And Captains
Six franchises compete for the title in Vidarbha Premier League Season 2. Notably, India Warriors join the lineup this season, replacing Nagpur Titans from the 2025 edition. Meanwhile, Nagpur Heroz retain India and IPL veteran Umesh Yadav as their headline name.
| Teams | Captains | Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| NECO Master Blaster | Jitesh Sharma | Defending champions; led by Indian T20I keeper-batter |
| Pagariya Strikers | Yash Kadam | 2025 finalists; strong all-round Vidarbha core |
| Bharat Rangers | Atharva Taide | Featured 2025 leading scorer Danish Malewar |
| Orange Tigers | Darshan Nalkande | Pace-heavy unit built around Vidarbha pacers |
| Nagpur Heroz | Mandar Mahale | Anchored by India quick Umesh Yadav and Yash Thakur |
| India Warriors | TBA | New franchise added for Season 2 |
VPL 2026 Tournament Format Explained
The VPL 2026 format expands significantly compared with the 2025 edition. Specifically, the men’s tournament now stretches across three distinct phases instead of a single round-robin.
League Stage
First, every team plays the other five once. Consequently, this opening round produces 15 matches and decides the early ladder positions.
Super League Round
Next, teams play two additional matches each based on standings. Therefore, the league grows to 21 round-stage fixtures before knockouts begin, which gives stronger units a chance to sharpen combinations.
Playoffs
Finally, four playoff games settle the title. Specifically, the Eliminator and Qualifier 1 play out as a Friday doubleheader on 12 June. Subsequently, Qualifier 2 follows on 13 June, and the VPL 2026 Final lifts the curtain on 14 June.
VPL 2026 Venue: VCA Stadium, Jamtha
Every men’s match takes place at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. Notably, this is the same venue that has hosted Test cricket and IPL fixtures, which means the surface tends to favour stroke-makers under lights. Additionally, the VCA Civil Lines Stadium hosts the parallel women’s tournament starting 7 June.
Pitch Behaviour You Can Expect
Historically, the Jamtha track plays true with steady bounce. As a result, totals above 180 stay chaseable, especially in evening games when dew enters the conversation. Indeed, the opening match already produced 442 runs across 38.5 overs
Where to Watch VPL 2026 Live: TV and Streaming
Fans can watch every VPL 2026 match live on Sony Sports Network, with the lead feed on Sony TEN 5. Moreover, the digital stream runs exclusively on JioHotstar for mobile and connected-TV viewers across India. Furthermore, the commentary panel features several former India internationals to elevate the production.
Defending Champions: NECO Master Blaster
Jitesh Sharma’s NECO Master Blaster arrives as the reigning champion after beating Pagariya Strikers in the inaugural final by seven wickets. However, the title defence starts on a sour note. Specifically, Pagariya Strikers chased down 220 in the opener, winning by five wickets.
2025 Edition Quick Recap
Last season, Danish Malewar of Bharat Rangers topped the run charts with 120 runs, while Pagariya’s Lalit Yadav led the bowling tally with 13 wickets
Star Players to Watch in VPL 2026
The VPL 2026 player pool features India internationals plus Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy-winning core. Therefore, scouts and Dream11 players alike treat this league as a useful preview of fringe IPL talent.
- Umesh Yadav (Nagpur Heroz) – India and Gujarat Titans pacer
- Jitesh Sharma (NECO Master Blaster) – India T20I keeper-batter and RCB stalwart
- Atharva Taide (Bharat Rangers) – PBKS top-order batter
- Harsh Dubey – left-arm spinner with a strong domestic T20 record
- Yash Thakur (Nagpur Heroz) – LSG pacer
- Karun Nair – Vidarbha middle-order batter and India returnee
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Conclusion: VPL 2026 Set For A Thrilling Season From 1 June To 14 June
The Vidarbha Premier League 2026 schedule packs 25 high-octane T20 matches into a tight two-week window between 1 June and 14 June.
Furthermore, with India stars like Umesh Yadav and Jitesh Sharma headlining, plus live coverage on Sony TEN 5 and JioHotstar, fans get an easy entry point into Vidarbha’s fast-rising T20 ecosystem.
Bookmark this schedule, set reminders for the Jamtha doubleheaders, and stay tuned for daily fantasy and match prediction coverage.
