Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor will headline the opening ceremony of the third edition of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun on September 21.
The opening ceremony will combine cricket with Uttarakhand’s cultural and musical heritage, featuring performances by artistes representing different regions of the state.
Karishma Shah and Ruhaan Bhardwaj from Garhwal, Inder Arya from Kumaon, Manju Nautiyal from Jaunpur, and Ajju Tomar and Ajay Chauhan from Jaunsar will perform during the ceremony, bringing together the musical traditions of Garhwal, Kumaon and Jaunsar.
The ceremony will be held on the evening of September 21, following two women’s matches scheduled earlier in the day.
The women’s competition will open UPL 2026, with Pithoragarh Hurricanes taking on Dehradun Warriors at 11 a.m., followed by Bageshwar Aerial facing Mussoorie Queens at 3 p.m.
Vaani Kapoor will be the star attraction at the evening ceremony, which will formally mark the opening of UPL 2026 ahead of the men’s competition, which begins on September 22.
Senior officials associated with the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) and the Uttarakhand Premier League will also attend the ceremony.
CAU secretary Kiran Verma said, “The opening ceremony marks the beginning of another exciting edition of the Uttarakhand Premier League. We are delighted to bring together cricket and the rich cultural talent of Uttarakhand on one platform.”
Mahim Verma, former vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and former secretary of the CAU, said the ceremony would provide an opportunity to celebrate both cricket and the cultural identity of Uttarakhand.
“The opening ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate both cricket and the vibrant cultural identity of Uttarakhand. Over the years, the Uttarakhand Premier League has provided a platform for players to showcase their talent, and this edition promises another exciting chapter,” he said.
UPL chairperson Sunil Joshi said the third edition was an important milestone for both the league and cricket in Uttarakhand.
“With players from different age groups and backgrounds coming together, the tournament provides an opportunity for both established and emerging cricketers to compete in a quality T20 environment. We look forward to an exciting edition and to welcoming cricket fans to the stadium,” Joshi said.
The women’s competition features Mussoorie Queens, Bageshwar Aerial, Pithoragarh Hurricanes and Dehradun Warriors, with Nandini Kashyap, Prema Rawat, Raghavi Bisht and Sweta Verma serving as their respective icon players.
The men’s competition will begin on September 22, with Haridwar Elmas taking on Nainital Tigers at 7:30 p.m. in the opening men’s fixture. The seven-team men’s competition also features Pithoragarh Hurricanes, USN Indians, Rishikesh River Kings, Tehri Titans and Dehradun Warriors.
The women’s leg will conclude with the final on September 24. The men’s competition will continue through the knockout stages, with the eliminator scheduled for September 30 and the UPL 2026 final on October 1.
The third edition of the Uttarakhand Premier League will be played from September 21 to October 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Dehradun.
