Six franchises finalise dynamic squads for upcoming state cricket league
Cricket legends Suresh Raina and former Indian fast bowler Debashish Mohanty will headline the second edition of the Odisha T20 League 2026 CM Trophy as official brand ambassadors. Organisers confirmed this high-profile partnership as all six regional franchises successfully completed their 16-player drafts on Sunday. Scheduled to run from September 20 to 29, the state-level tournament promises high-energy matches at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Kataka. Barabati Stadium carries deep historical significance within Indian cricket, having hosted top-tier international fixtures for several decades, which makes it an inspiring battleground for regional athletes aiming to make their mark.
Franchise Draft Outcomes and Strategies
Six competitive squads will fight for ultimate state glory. Defending titleholders Cuttack Panthers face stiff competition from Bhubaneswar Tigers, Puri Titans, Keonjhar Miners, Rourkela Superstars, and Sambalpur Warriors. Every team carefully finalised their rosters, balancing seasoned domestic players with promising young talent.
Leadership assignments reveal calculated strategies from team owners. Swastik Samal captains the Bhubaneswar Tigers under the guidance of head coach Subit Biswal. Puri Titans entrusted Aditya Rout with the captaincy, supported by coach Preetamjit Das. Keonjhar Miners selected Subhransu Senapati to lead their campaign alongside coach Suryakant Pradhan. Govinda Poddar takes charge of Rourkela Superstars with head coach Sanjay Raul. Sambalpur Warriors appointed Gaurav Choudhury as captain, working closely with coach Basant Mohanty. Finally, defending champions Cuttack Panthers rely on the experienced Biplab Samantaray, guided by head coach Pravanjan Mullick.
Odisha Cricket Association Vision
OCA Honorary Secretary Sanjay Behera described the player draft as an essential stage in giving local athletes a larger platform. He thanked franchise owners, managers, and the OCA committee for championing this sporting event. Behera pointed out that enthusiastic investor participation signals positive commercial growth for domestic sports properties. He emphasised that this competition focuses entirely on creating a structured system, helping dedicated players advance to higher professional tiers. Key figures like OCA President Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Vice-President Jagamohan Pattnaik, Treasurer Bikash Pradhan, and Joint Secretary Prabhat Kumar Bhol also played major roles in organizing this much-anticipated cricket showdown.
