New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh Cricket League (MPL) has once again brought national recognition to the state’s cricketing talent. This time, a total of 14 MPL players have been selected by various franchises in the IPL and Women’s Premier League (WPL). Significantly, these include several players who had not previously had the opportunity to play for the state’s senior team.
In the men’s category, Venkatesh Iyer has been added to the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad. Shivang Kumar has joined Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mangesh Yadav has joined RCB, and Akshat Raghuvanshi has joined Lucknow Super Giants. Kuldeep Sen will play for the Rajasthan Royals.
Delhi Capitals have retained Madhav Tiwari, while Gujarat Titans have retained Arshad Khan, Lucknow Super Giants have retained Avesh Khan, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained Aniket Verma. RCB has also retained Rajat Patidar. In the women’s category, UP Warriors have included Kranti Gaur in their team. Mumbai Indians have expressed confidence in Sanskriti Gupta and Rahila Firdous, while Gujarat Giants have added Anushka Sharma.
The success of these players, who have risen from MPL and Madhya Pradesh state cricket to the IPL and WPL, has proven that MPL is no longer just a competition but a strong platform for recognising and nurturing talent.
“Providing opportunities to youth is a priority”
Mahanaryaman Scindia, MPL Chairman and MPCA President, said, “It is a matter of great joy that players from Madhya Pradesh have been selected for the IPL.”
He said, “This time, 14 players have been selected. We want to further increase this number so that Madhya Pradesh’s representation at the national level is strengthened and new talent gets the opportunity to emerge. Giving opportunities to the youth is my priority.”
IPL dreams realised through MPL
The Madhya Pradesh Cricket League is proving to be a major launching pad for the state’s youth. Like Aniket Verma last season, this time two male players, Shivang Kumar and Mangesh Yadav, have secured their place in the IPL solely based on their performance in the MPL.
The MPL has also become a lifeline for women players. The MPL Women’s tournament has also opened new avenues for the state’s women. Four players from the Women’s MPL, which began last year, have secured opportunities in the WPL. Kranti Gaur (UP Warriors), Sanskriti Gupta (Mumbai Indians), Rahila Firdous (Mumbai Indians), Pooja Vastrakar (RCB), and Anushka Sharma (Gujarat Giants) have been part of IPL teams. Some of these players are now representing India internationally.