The third edition of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) will be held from September 21 to October 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, featuring the state’s top cricketers in both men’s and women’s competitions.
Organized under the aegis of the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU), the UPL will provide a competitive platform for players from across the state to showcase their talent.
The men’s competition will feature teams including Dehradun Warriors, USN Indians, Haridwar Elmas, Tehri Titans, Rishikesh River Kings, Pithoragarh Hurricanes, and Nainital Tigers.
Teams participating in the women’s competition will include Mussoorie Queens, Bageshwar Aerial, Pithoragarh Hurricanes, and Dehradun Warriors. Four female ‘icon players’ have also been announced for the tournament Prema Rawat, Raghavi Bisht, Nandini Kashyap, and Shweta Verma who will bring experience and quality to the competition.
Speaking ahead of UPL 2026, Kiran Verma, Secretary of the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand, stated that the league has become a significant platform for the state’s cricketers.
Verma said, “The Uttarakhand Premier League has emerged as a vital platform to showcase the talent of our players. The success of the first two editions encourages us to make UPL 2026 even bigger and provide better opportunities for our male and female cricketers to advance to higher levels.”
Mahim Verma, former BCCI Vice-President and former Secretary of the CAU, remarked that the league offers players a chance to make a name for themselves before the IPL auction. He said, “There is immense cricketing talent in Uttarakhand, and the UPL provides players with the platform and recognition they deserve. Being held prior to the IPL auction, this league offers players a great opportunity to grab attention through their performances.”
UPL Chairman Sunil Joshi stated, “The aim of the UPL is to create opportunities for cricketers from Uttarakhand. The first two seasons have showcased the depth of talent in the state, and UPL 2026 will provide players with another competitive platform to perform, establish their identity, and secure opportunities at a higher level.”
The Uttarakhand Premier League has emerged as the state’s premier T20 competition, offering talented cricketers the chance to play alongside experienced players in a professionally organized environment.
The league is being conducted ahead of the IPL auction process, giving players a platform to showcase their T20 skills and attract greater attention. The first two seasons received an overwhelming response, helping to establish the tournament as a major sporting event in Uttarakhand. According to the league’s official platform, the first season was watched by over 21 million viewers across television and digital platforms.
The second season further strengthened this foundation by expanding the scope of the competition and providing continuous opportunities for players from across the state.
