The Vidarbha Premier League is back for Season 2, and this time the scale is bigger.
Six franchises, 25 T20 matches, two weeks of cricket — and a handful of India internationals thrown into the mix to keep things sharp.
The VPL 2026 schedule runs from 1 June to 14 June at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, wrapping up with the final on a Sunday evening under lights.
If you follow Vidarbha cricket or just want a compact tournament to track during a quiet patch in the international calendar, this is worth your attention.
Vidarbha Premier League 2026 Schedule, Teams & Venues
Here’s everything you need — dates, fixtures, teams, squads, and broadcast details — in one place.
VPL 2026 Key Details at a Glance
| 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 Full Schedule: All 21 League Matches
Each team plays the other five once in the opening round, followed by a Super League phase and then playoffs. All matches are at VCA Jamtha Stadium, Nagpur.
| Match No. | Date | Time | Fixture | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Jun 1 | 7:30 PM | NECO Master Blaster vs Pagariya Strikers | Pagariya Strikers won by 5 wkts |
| 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 wkts |
| 4 | Wed, Jun 3 | 2:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs India Warriors | Pagariya Strikers won by 3 wkts |
| 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 | TBD |
| 7 | Thu, Jun 4 | 7:30 PM | Pagariya Strikers vs Nagpur Heroz | TBD |
| 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 | TBD |
VPL 2026 Playoffs Schedule
The top four sides from the league and Super League stages qualify. The final is on Sunday, 14 June at 7:30 PM IST.
| 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 |
How does the VPL 2026 Tournament Format Work?
Season 2 is a step up from the inaugural edition in terms of structure.
- League Stage: Each of the six teams plays the other five once — 15 matches in all. This sets the initial standings.
- Super League Round: Teams then play two additional games based on those standings, pushing the total to 21 round-stage fixtures. It gives the stronger sides more game time to find form before the knockouts.
- Playoffs: Four games from 12–14 June settle the title — Eliminator, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, and the Final. The Eliminator winner gets another chance; the Qualifier 1 loser does too. Standard IPL-style playoff logic.
VPL 2026 Teams and Captains
Six franchises are in the mix this season. India Warriors are the new addition, replacing the Nagpur Titans from the 2025 edition.
| Team | Captain | Key Note |
|---|---|---|
| NECO Master Blaster | Jitesh Sharma | Defending champions; India T20I keeper-batter |
| Pagariya Strikers | Yash Kadam | 2025 finalists; strong Vidarbha core |
| Bharat Rangers | Atharva Taide | Home to 2025’s top scorer Danish Malewar |
| Orange Tigers | Darshan Nalkande | Pace-heavy lineup |
| Nagpur Heroz | Mandar Mahale | Built around India quick Umesh Yadav |
| India Warriors | TBA | New franchise for Season 2 |
Star Players to Watch in VPL 2026
The player pool mixes India internationals with Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy core — useful if you’re tracking fringe IPL talent or building Dream11 squads.
- Jitesh Sharma (NECO Master Blaster) — India T20I keeper-batter, RCB regular
- Umesh Yadav (Nagpur Heroz) — India and Gujarat Titans pace bowler
- Atharva Taide (Bharat Rangers) — PBKS top-order batter
- Yash Thakur (Nagpur Heroz) — LSG pacer with a solid domestic record
- Karun Nair — Vidarbha middle-order batter and India returnee
- Harsh Dubey — left-arm spinner with strong domestic T20 numbers
- Danish Malewar (Bharat Rangers) — led the run charts in 2025 with 120 runs
- Lalit Yadav (Pagariya Strikers) — top wicket-taker in 2025 with 13 scalps
VPL 2026 Venues
- VCA Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur hosts all men’s matches. It’s a proper Test and IPL-grade venue — true bounce, good carry, and totals above 180 are chaseable under lights, especially when dew starts to appear. The opener confirmed as much: Match 1 produced 442 runs across 38.5 overs.
- VCA Civil Lines Stadium, Nagpur hosts the women’s tournament, which gets underway from 7 June in parallel with the men’s competition.
Where to Watch VPL 2026 Live?
Every match airs on Sony TEN 5 (Sony Sports Network).
The streaming feed is exclusively on JioHotstar for mobile and connected-TV viewers.
No complicated hunt for an obscure streaming link — both platforms are mainstream and widely available across India.
Defending Champions: NECO Master Blaster
Jitesh Sharma’s side won the inaugural VPL title in 2025, beating Pagariya Strikers by seven wickets in the final.
Season 2 hasn’t started smoothly, though — Pagariya chased down 220 in the opening game and won by five wickets.
So the rematch between these two is already a subplot worth following.
FAQs
- When does VPL 2026 start and end?
The tournament runs from 1 June to 14 June 2026. The league stage starts on 1 June, and the final is on 14 June at 7:30 PM IST.
- Where are VPL 2026 matches being played?
All men’s matches are at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. The women’s tournament is played at the VCA Civil Lines Stadium, also in Nagpur.
- How many teams are in VPL 2026?
Six teams — NECO Master Blaster, Pagariya Strikers, Bharat Rangers, Orange Tigers, Nagpur Heroz, and India Warriors (new this season).
- Where can I watch VPL 2026 on TV and online?
Live on Sony TEN 5 (Sony Sports Network) and streaming on JioHotstar.
- Who are the defending champions?
NECO Master Blaster, captained by Jitesh Sharma, won the inaugural VPL in 2025.
- How does the VPL 2026 format work?
There’s a 15-match league stage, a Super League phase adding six more games, then four playoff matches — Eliminator, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2, and the Final.
Conclusion:
Twenty-five T20 matches over 14 days, India-capped players, a new franchise in the mix, and live coverage on mainstream TV and streaming.
The VPL 2026 is a compact, accessible tournament with enough quality to follow seriously.
Bookmark the schedule above, set reminders for the 12–14 June playoff weekend, and check back here for updated results as the league stage progresses.
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