~ The state’s biggest celebration of cricket and culture is set to return to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun from 23rd September 2025 to 5th October 2025 with seven men’s teams and four women’s teams competing for the respective titles ~
Dehradun (Uttarakhand), 28 August 2025: Uttarakhand’s biggest celebration where cricket and culture unite, the Uttarakhand Premier League is set to return for its second season, announced the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) on Thursday. The CAU has announced that a bigger second season of the league will feature seven men’s and four women’s teams, increasing from five men’s and three women’s teams that took part last season – showcasing a steady growth in the talent pool emerging from within the state. A total of 30 matches will be played at the city’s iconic Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, with SSPARK Sports and Entertainment serving as the league’s organizers.
The second season will kickstart with the women’s competition from 23rd September as four teams vie for the title across four days, with six round robin matches taking place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun. The women’s final will take place on 26th September.
The men’s competition will begin from 27th September 2025, with 21 league matches taking place between the seven participating teams stretching across a week, before the Eliminator and Final are held on 4th and 5th of October respectively.
With Uttarakhand cricket producing standout performers on the domestic stage, the UPL continues to be a launchpad for the state’s brightest talent. Season 1 saw homegrown players such as Yuvraj Chaudhary, Priyanshu Khanduri, Avneesh Sudha, and Bhanu Pratap Singh shine with match-winning performances — proving that the state’s cricketing pipeline is stronger than ever.
The Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) aims to build on this momentum by giving emerging cricketers the platform to showcase their skills alongside players who have excelled at the highest level, including those with experience in the Indian Team and Indian Premier League. This exposure not only raises the competitive standard of the league but also accelerates player development.
To ensure every team has an equal opportunity to build a competitive squad, the UPL Player Draft will be held on 10th September in Dehradun. Across the two days, all seven men’s teams and four women’s teams will complete their rosters, beginning with each franchise selecting one marquee player before filling out their line-ups.
Excited for the return of the Uttarakhand Premier League, Mahim Verma, Secretary, Cricket Association of Uttarakhand, said, “Season 1 showed us the incredible depth of cricketing talent in our state, and with Season 2 we aim to provide an even bigger platform. This league gives young players the chance to rub shoulders with those who have competed at the highest levels — in the IPL and the WPL. We are confident UPL will continue to accelerate the development of Uttarakhand’s cricketers while offering fans a truly world-class cricketing and cultural experience.”
Rajeev Khanna, Founder, SSPARK Sports and Entertainment, added, “UPL is more than a tournament, it’s a celebration of Uttarakhand’s sporting spirit. By expanding the number of teams, we are giving more players a chance to test themselves in a professional environment that mirrors the IPL and WPL atmosphere. For fans, it’s an opportunity to enjoy top-quality cricket and entertainment, all in one place.”
Season 1 Recap:
The first season of the league showcased some thrilling individual brilliance from home-grown talent. Yuvraj Chaudhary (USN Indians) emerged as the tournament’s standout batter — with 322 runs, a century, 27 towering sixes, and a blazing strike rate of 192.8. Close on his heels were Priyanshu Khanduri with 253 runs (25 fours), and Avneesh Sudha, whose electrifying 118* was the highest score of the season. Sanskar Rawat also impressed with 191 quick-fire runs, featuring 13 sixes.
On the bowling front, Prashant Chauhan and Devendra Bora (USN Indians) shared the honor of most wickets, each claiming 8 scalps. However, the pick of the bowling performances came from Bhanu Pratap Singh (Nainital SG Pipers), who recorded the tournament’s best figures of 4/17. In the end, USN Indians were crowned as the inaugural champions in the men’s competition.
On the women’s side, the competition was equally compelling. Nandini Kashyap helped Mussoorie Thunders lift the title as she finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, amassing 123 runs from just three matches at a strike rate of 133.7. Anjali Goswami also made significant contributions with the bat, scoring 63 runs in three innings. With the ball, Gunjan Bhandari of the Nainital SG Pipers emerged as the most effective bowler, claiming 5 wickets in just two games, including a remarkable 3/18 which stood as one of the tournament’s best figures.
By delivering with both bat and ball, these players not only showcased individual brilliance but also raised the bar for women’s cricket in Uttarakhand—making Season 2 a highly anticipated stage for further breakthroughs.
ENDS
About Uttarakhand Premier League:
Uttarakhand Premier League is the state’s premier T20 tournament conducted by the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand. The inaugural season was held in September 2024, involving five men’s and three women’s teams, and was played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun. The league aims to provide a platform for budding cricketers from the state as they rub shoulders with players who have represented the Indian Team and various IPL and WPL franchises.
For more information, log onto www.uplt20.com
Follow Uttarakhand Premier League:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uplt20.cau/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/t20_upl
About Cricket Association of Uttarakhand:
The Cricket Association of Uttarakhand is the governing body of the cricket activities in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and the Uttarakhand cricket team.
About SSPARK Sports and Entertainment:
SSPARK is a creative sports event agency that helps clients with sports operations and growth acceleration programs by leveraging innovations. With over seventeen years of experience in various aspects of sports management, including cricket operations, venue operations, logistics, sponsorship, marketing, sports IP development, game development, and talent management, SSPARK has worked with notable organizations such as Global T10, Rajasthan Royals, BCCI, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Red Bull, Legends League Cricket, Rajasthan State Sports Council, and UAE Royals.
For any media related queries, contact:
Devansh Singhania
media@uplt20.com | +918439826754
