The Senior Women’s T20 Trophy Elite 2025-26 came to an exciting finish with a showdown between two of the season’s top teams, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The final took place at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat, and it was a nail-biter right from the start. With 31 state teams battling it out in various Elite groups over several weeks, the tournament showcased intense competition filled with close finishes and remarkable individual performances.
Both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh had been in exceptional form throughout the group and knockout stages, setting the stage for a thrilling finale that truly delivered on the anticipation, filled with moments of determination, skill, and tension.
After winning the toss, Madhya Pradesh chose to bowl first, looking to put up a solid show with the ball amidst the pressure of the final match. Maharashtra’s innings got off to a shaky start when Kiran Navgire was dismissed early for 5 runs off 4 balls, leaving Maharashtra at 6 for 1. Gautami Naik stepped up to help stabilise the innings, scoring 22 runs off 17 balls, including 4 boundaries.
She formed a crucial 34-run partnership with Tejal Hasabnis, who played a pivotal role with her calculated innings of 30 runs from 24 balls, which featured 3 fours and a six. Their collaboration brought some momentum, nudging the score to 64 for 3 at 8.1 overs before Hasabnis was cleaned up by Anushka Sharma.
Captain Anuja Patil added 12 runs off 9 balls, while Shweta Mane contributed 21 runs off 17 balls, pushing the total forward. However, the lower order struggled to make significant contributions. Mukta Magre scored 4 off 5, BM Mirajkar only managed 1 off 1, and a few others chipped in with modest scores. Ultimately, Maharashtra were restricted for 102/9 runs in 14 overs in this shortened final.
For Madhya Pradesh’s bowlers, Shuchi Upadhyay was the star of the innings, taking 4 wickets for 20 runs in 3 overs. Anushka Sharma also contributed with her bowling effort of 1 for 18 in 3 overs. Nikita Singh and Vaishnavi Sharma also finished with one wicket each in their three overs.
With a total of 102 runs on the board, Maharashtra felt they had set a defendable target. However, Madhya Pradesh’s batting innings began steadily witha 30-run opening stand, and then they faced difficulties. Aayushi Shukla could only score 5 runs off 12 balls, and Jincy George contributed 26 runs off 26 balls before she departed in in the 9th over of the chase, reducing Madhya Pradesh to 51 for 2.
Anushka Sharma added 20 runs off 15 balls, but as wickets fell rapidly, Madhya Pradesh struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Soumya Tiwari made 17 runs off 12 balls, and Ananya Dubey faced seven balls and scored nine runs off them. Despite some attempts to build partnerships, wickets fell quickly, and they reached 90 for 9 at the end of their 14 overs, ultimately losing the match by 12 runs.
For Maharashtra, Ishita Khale was a standout with her bowling performance, taking 3 wickets for 17 runs in 3 overs, effectively dismantling Maharashtra’s middle order. BM Mirajkar also impressed with her bowling, claiming 3 wickets for 19 runs. Mukta Magre, and Anuja Patil, chipped in with valuable wickets, ensuring that Maharashtra’s scoring was kept in check.
Throughout the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy Elite we saw many teams vying for playoff spots, and the journey for both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh culminated in this final. Madhya Pradesh defeated Karnataka by 7 wickets, chasing the target of 83, which was achieved in 10 overs. Saumya Tiwari and Aayushi Shukla were notable players in the chase. Aayushi Shukla scored 37 runs off 23 balls, and Soumya Tiwari scored 44 runs off 31 balls.
Maharashtra defeated Haryana to reach the finals. Maharashtra won by 6 wickets while chasing the target of 63 runs in 6 overs. Tejal Hasabnis, with her 37 runs from 13 balls with five boundaries and two sixes, scripted the victory for Maharashtra. SR Mane (12 off 7) and Gautami Naik (11 off 6) contributed well to the victory.
With this win against Madhya Pradesh in the Final, Maharashtra secured the title, adding a significant trophy to their achievements. Their consistent performances throughout the season, combined with strong results leading into the final, led them to this satisfying 12-run win.
Madhya Pradesh finished the tournament as runners-up, having reached the finals as the top team in Elite Group B with seven wins out of seven matches. They also topped Super League Group A, achieving one win and two no results. In contrast, Maharashtra emerged as the tournament winners. They secured their finals spot as the second team in Elite Group B, with five wins out of seven matches. Additionally, they ranked first in Super League Group B, recording two wins and one no result.
The 2025-26 edition of the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy Elite delivered a highly competitive final, with Maharashtra lifting the trophy while Madhya Pradesh showcased their potential as formidable challengers for the future.
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