Maharashtra Premier League 2025 to Kick Off in Pune on June 4 with Grand Opening Ceremony

Pune: The highly anticipated Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) and Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL) will officially begin on June 4, 2025, at the MCA International Stadium, Gahunje, Pune, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) confirmed during a press conference held on Saturday.

MCA President Rohit Pawar announced that six MPL teams and four WMPL teams, including two teams from Pune — 4S Puneri Bappa and Pune Warriors — will compete in the third edition of this high-octane cricket tournament.

Free Entry, Star-Studded Opening Night

The tournament will be inaugurated with a grand opening ceremony on the evening of June 4, featuring a drone show, celebrity performances, and the first match between defending champions Ratnagiri Jets and Eagle Nashik Titans.

Spectators can enjoy free entry, free parking, and free drinking water at all matches. Special seating arrangements will be made for students from PMC, PCMC, and private schools to attend and experience live cricket.

Live Telecast and Streaming

• MPL matches will be televised live on Star Sports 2
• MPL and WMPL will be streamed on JioCinema

MPL & WMPL 2025: Teams in Action

MPL 2025 Teams:

• Ratnagiri Jets (2-time defending champions)
• 4S Puneri Bappa (Pune)
• PBG Kolhapur Tuskers
• Eagle Nashik Titans
• Satara Warriors
• Raigad Royals

WMPL 2025 Teams:

• Pune Warriors
• Ratnagiri Jets
• Solapur Smashers
• Raigad Royals

This year’s player auction saw the participation of 409 male cricketers and 249 female cricketers, highlighting growing enthusiasm for domestic cricket in Maharashtra.

Rohit Pawar: MPL is a Platform for International Talent

MCA President Rohit Pawar emphasized the tournament’s mission:

“The Maharashtra Premier League is a platform that provides opportunities to emerging players from across the state. We aim to produce future international cricketers through the MPL,” he said.

Pawar also announced that the MCA will grant ₹75 lakh to each district for the development of cricket infrastructure and training facilities. “This initiative will make cricket more accessible and elevate the standard of the sport in Maharashtra,” he added.

Ajay Shirke Cricket Academy in Pune

The MCA is set to launch a state-of-the-art cricket academy in Pune, modeled on the National Cricket Academy and named after former MCA president Ajay Shirke. Four additional regional academies will also be established across the state to nurture grassroots talent.

Dignitaries & Players Present at Press Conference

The press conference was attended by MCA Secretary Kamlesh Pisal, Apex Council Members Vinayak Dravid, Suhas Patwardhan, Sunil Mutha, Kalpana Tapiker, Sushil Shewale, CEO Ajinkya Joshi, and team owners Ashish Desai (4S Puneri Bappa), Manpreet Uppal (Pune Warriors), and Gaurav Gadhok (Satara Warriors). Also present were players Ramkrishna Ghosh, Yash Kshirsagar, Anuja Patil, and Pune Warriors vice-captain Shweta Mane.