Gwalior was buzzing with anticipation as the Madhya Pradesh Women’s League (MPWL) 2026 player draft unfolded on April 30 (Thursday), from 2:30 PM IST at a high-profile venue in the city.
This pivotal event marks the launchpad for the tournament’s eagerly awaited second edition, now expanded to five fierce teams: Gwalior Shernis, Bundelkhand Bulls, Bhopal Wolves, Chambal Ghariyals, and Royal Nimar Eagles, up from just three squads in the inaugural 2025 season, promising fiercer rivalries and deeper talent pools across the state.
The draft arrived on the heels of a groundbreaking debut last year, where Chambal Ghariyals dominated as the only unbeaten side, topping the points table with four points from two games to clinch supremacy. Bundelkhand Bulls held a solid second place with two points from their two matches, a win and a defeat, showcasing their resilience, while Bhopal Wolves languished at the bottom, winless throughout their campaign. These performances set a high bar, fueling speculation on how returning stars and fresh faces will reshape the landscape.
Expansion to five teams injects fresh dynamism into MPWL, with newcomers Gwalior Shernis and Royal Nimar Eagles joining the fray alongside the battle-tested trio. Expect Gwalior’s home-ground advantage to shine for the Shernis, while Royal Nimar Eagles could draw from Indore’s cricketing heritage to make an immediate impact. Defending table-toppers Chambal Ghariyals were on the hunt for reinforcements to sustain their unbeaten streak, but Bundelkhand Bulls’ mixed results hinted at a squad poised for redemption. Bhopal Wolves, meanwhile, face the ultimate turnaround test after their winless campaign in the 2025 edition of the tournament.
All Squads for the Madhya Pradesh Women’s League 2026
Gwalior Shernis:
Nuzhat Parween, Jiya Jethwa, Soumya Tiwari, Tanvi Upadhyay, Kranti Gaud, Ishana Swami, Khushi Yadav, Riya Yadav, Anaadi Tagde, Unnati Bagora, Aashna Patidar, Sakshi Pachor, and Shreya Dixit.
Bundelkhand Bulls:
Anushka Sharma, Mahi Thakur, Muskan Biswas, Honey Yadav, Dakshita Yadav, Yashashwini B, Maya Marskole, Khayti Jain, Shuchi Upadhyay, Disha Sharma, Ananya Dubey, Payal Balmik, Suhani Sharma, Vaidehi Rajput, and Suditi Vashistha.
Bhopal Wolves:
Sanskriti Gupta, Tamanna C, Hanshikha Kirar, Vaishnavi Vyas, Anjali Patidar, Rishita Parihar, Saanvi Bhawsar, Janhvi Rajput, Aayushi Shukla, Reena Yadav, Priyanka Koushal, Anshula Rao, Roshani Kumari, Vanshika P, and Kajal.
Chambal Ghariyals:
Jincy George, Dhani Buchade, Aditi Panwar, Vaishnavi Singh, Avni Tater, Purvi Khanaa, Aditi Tiwari, Somiya Ali Ans, Pooja Vastrakar, Rachna Yadav, Rahila Firdous, Khyati Shukla, Kanishka Thakur, Siddhi Dubey, and Anamika Raghuwanshi.
Royal Nimar Eagles:
Nikita Singh, Vaishnavi Sharma, Dipti Singh, Muskan Yogi, Soniya Singh, Khushi Yadav, Yamini Billore, Kalyani Jadhav, Janvi Rai, Lakshita Mahe, Tanishka Sen, Harshita Singh, and Rishika Jain.
As franchises sealed their strategic picks, balancing explosive batters, crafty spinners, and pace aces suited to Madhya Pradesh’s spin-friendly pitches, the draft promised fireworks, and it delivered. Young prospects from local academies stole the spotlight, echoing the rise of women’s cricket talent in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. With the league eyeing a suitable window for the upcoming 2nd edition of the tournament, it remains to be seen what the tournament organisers have in store in terms of the tournament schedule and the venues for the new season.
Nikita Singh and Vaishnavi Sharma are the icon players for the Royal Nimar Eagles, Aayushi Shukla for the Bhopal Wolves, Nuzhat Parween, Kranti Gaud and Soumya Tiwari for Gwalior Shernis, Pooja Vastrakar and Rahila Firdous for Chambal Ghariyals, and Shuchi Upadhyay for Bundelkhand Bulls picked in the draft.
These selections did not just fill rosters but define legacies in this burgeoning domestic circuit. Fans are set to witness MPWL evolve into Madhya Pradesh’s premier women’s T20 spectacle.
I am Yash Tailor, and I believe work should be driven by passion. Therefore, after completing my Engineering, I chose to work in the Cricket industry, my passion. My goal is to reach a stage where I truly enjoy what I do and give my best to every task with energy and purpose.