History, Teams, Winners, Format and Latest Season

The Baroda Premier League (BPL) is a franchise-based T20 cricket tournament organised by the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) in Vadodara, Gujarat. The competition was introduced in 2025 to provide a bigger platform for local and emerging cricketers while giving them an opportunity to perform in front of selectors and talent scouts. The BCA-registered constitution also defines the BPL as a franchise-based Twenty20 tournament conducted by the association.

The inaugural season was played in June 2025 with five privately owned teams. The tournament continued in 2026 with the same five-team structure, although the season was shortened to 24 matches. A4 Power Strikers won the 2026 title after defeating Alembic Warriors by six wickets in the final.

The league is based at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, which has hosted the tournament since its launch. The competition has focused heavily on giving young Baroda players regular T20 cricket and exposure alongside experienced domestic players.

What Is the Baroda Premier League?

The Baroda Premier League is a state-level franchise T20 competition run by the Baroda Cricket Association.

The league was created to strengthen the pathway for players from Baroda and the wider region. Before the inaugural season, the BCA said the tournament would feature more than 120 players, including 20 Under-19 cricketers. Players were distributed among the five franchises through a transparent selection process.

The competition also brings experienced Baroda players into the same squads as younger cricketers. This allows emerging players to gain experience in a higher-pressure T20 environment.

History of the Baroda Premier League

2025 – Alembic Warriors Win the Inaugural Title

The first Baroda Premier League season was played in June 2025. Five teams competed in the tournament, with all matches scheduled at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium in Vadodara.

The five inaugural franchises were Alembic Warriors, Ami Super Avengers, Diamond Dazzlers, A4 Power Strikers and Pruthvi Panthers. Each franchise was acquired for ₹1.25 crore, while the teams were led by prominent Baroda players.

The tournament used a double round-robin league stage followed by playoffs. Each team was scheduled to play the other four teams twice before the top four advanced to the knockout stage.

Alembic Warriors reached the final against Ami Super Avengers. Ami Super Avengers were bowled out for 109 in 19 overs, after which Alembic Warriors chased the target in 16.3 overs to win by four wickets.

Alembic Warriors therefore became the first Baroda Premier League champions.

Atit Sheth was one of the leading performers during the inaugural campaign, scoring 291 runs for Ami Super Avengers at an average of 48.50, while Ninad Rathva and Anant Bharwad were among Alembic Warriors’ leading batters.

2026 – A4 Power Strikers Become Champions

The second season of the Baroda Premier League was played in June 2026. Five teams again competed, with the tournament featuring 24 matches.

The teams were Alembic Warriors, Ami Super Avengers, A4 Power Strikers, Diamond Dazzlers and Pruthvi Panthers. The league stage was followed by Qualifier 1, an Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the final.

A4 Power Strikers finished the league stage in second place and reached the final after beating Alembic Warriors by 37 runs in Qualifier 1. Alembic Warriors then defeated Diamond Dazzlers by 48 runs in Qualifier 2 to set up another final appearance.

In the final on June 14, Alembic Warriors scored 159/6 in 20 overs. Aayush Rajgor top-scored with an unbeaten 57 from 38 balls, while Anant Bharwad made 43 from 34 balls.

A4 Power Strikers chased the target in 19.2 overs, finishing on 164/4 to win by six wickets. The result gave A4 Power Strikers their first BPL championship.

Dhruv N Patel was the leading run-scorer of the 2026 tournament with 486 runs. Shashwat Rawat followed with 414 runs, while Safvan Patel led the bowling charts with 24 wickets.

Baroda Premier League Winners List

Season Champion Runner-up Result
2025 Alembic Warriors Ami Super Avengers Alembic Warriors won by 4 wickets
2026 A4 Power Strikers Alembic Warriors A4 Power Strikers won by 6 wickets

Alembic Warriors won the inaugural BPL title in 2025 before A4 Power Strikers claimed the second championship in 2026.

Baroda Premier League Teams

The BPL has five franchise teams:

Team 2025 2026
Alembic Warriors Yes Yes
Ami Super Avengers Yes Yes
A4 Power Strikers Yes Yes
Diamond Dazzlers Yes Yes
Pruthvi Panthers Yes Yes

The same five franchises formed the competition in both of its first two seasons.

Baroda Premier League Format

The BPL uses a T20 format with a league stage followed by playoffs.

The 2025 competition had five teams playing a double round-robin league stage. The top four teams qualified for Qualifier 1, the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 before the final.

The 2026 tournament also featured five teams and used the same basic playoff structure. Each team played eight league matches before the knockout phase. The top two teams entered Qualifier 1, while the remaining teams competed through the Eliminator route.

Baroda Premier League Venues

The BCA Stadium at Kotambi in Vadodara has been the main venue for the Baroda Premier League.

The inaugural 2025 season was scheduled entirely at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium. The 2026 edition also used the Kotambi Stadium for the league matches and playoffs, including the final.

The venue has therefore hosted both BPL finals since the tournament began.

Key Players in the Baroda Premier League

Several established Baroda players have featured prominently in the competition.

Atit Sheth was the captain of the Ami Super Avengers and one of the leading performers in the 2025 season. He scored 291 runs at an average of 48.50.

Ninad Rathva captained Alembic Warriors during the inaugural season and continued to represent the franchise in 2026. He was among the team’s main batting options.

Vishnu Solanki led A4 Power Strikers in the first season and remained part of the franchise in 2026. He was also among the team’s leading batters.

Shashwat Rawat was the Diamond Dazzlers’ icon player in 2025 and finished the 2026 season with 414 runs. He was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament that year.

Safvan Patel was the leading wicket-taker in the 2026 BPL, taking 24 wickets for Alembic Warriors.

Young Players and the BPL Pathway

One of the main purposes of the Baroda Premier League is to create more opportunities for young cricketers.

The BCA included 20 Under-19 players in the first season and distributed more than 120 players across the five franchises. The association also said the competition could help local players attract attention from national selectors and IPL scouts.

The second season continued that focus, with the BCA describing the tournament as part of its pathway for developing future professional cricketers. The 2026 edition also received a broadcast partnership with JioHotstar, giving players a wider audience.

Baroda Premier League at a Glance

Category Details
Full Name Baroda Premier League
Abbreviation BPL
Organiser Baroda Cricket Association
State Gujarat
Format T20
First Season 2025
Teams 5
2025 Champion Alembic Warriors
2025 Runner-up Ami Super Avengers
2026 Champion A4 Power Strikers
2026 Runner-up Alembic Warriors
Main Venue BCA Stadium, Kotambi
Location Vadodara, Gujarat
Latest Season 2026
2026 Top Run-scorer Dhruv N Patel – 486 runs
2026 Top Wicket-taker Safvan Patel – 24 wickets

FAQs

Q. When did the Baroda Premier League start?

A. The first BPL season was played in 2025.

Q. Who won the first Baroda Premier League?

A. Alembic Warriors won the inaugural title in 2025.

Q. Who won the BPL 2026 title?

A. A4 Power Strikers won the 2026 title.

Q. How many teams play in the BPL?

A. Five teams compete in the league.

Q. Where is the Baroda Premier League played?

A. The tournament is played at BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara.

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