After a crucial victory against Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters in the Maharani Trophy KSCA T20 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday, Hubli Tigers’ captain Vrinda Dinesh credited her side’s batting prowess as it rose to the top of the table with one match remaining.

After a 17-run victory against Mysore Warriors at the start of the tournament, the Tigers lost two consecutive matches to the Gulbarga Mystics and Blasters.

However, Vrinda & Co. turned their season around by winning the reverse fixtures against the Warriors and Blasters back-to-back.

“It was just about timing. We just had to click early on and the [twin victories] turned the momentum for us,” Vrinda told The Hindu as she alluded to the team’s patience in coming back strong after two losses.

The right-handed batter, alongside Niki Prasad and C. Prathyoosha, has been pivotal in Tigers’ recent victories. The 25-year-old has accumulated 170 runs at a tournament-leading strike rate of 170.

“As a team, we believe batting is our strength, and our bowling can defend any target,” the skipper stated. “In batting, we believe it’s Prathyoosha, me or Niki. If one of us is there throughout the 20 overs, the team will sail through.”

Vrinda also commended the role of the Tigers’ support staff in helping her improve as a leader.

“There’s something to learn in every game. There have been certain moments where they’ve told me, ‘you could’ve done something differently’ or something was really well done. These insights have helped me get better.”

With the Tigers now in a good position to qualify for Sunday’s final, Vrinda is focused on staying composed rather than looking too far ahead.

“Everybody in the team knows their roles, and it’s just about showing up on that particular day,” she signed off.

Shivamogga Yodhas recorded a comfortable seven-wicket win over Mysuru Warriors in the DACCS Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Eliminator at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday. 

Yodhas cruised into Qualifer 2, while Warriors exited the tournament. 

Yodhas’ left-arm pacer Abhilash Shetty gave his side the early momentum when he dismissed opener R. Rohan (1) and star batter Devdutt Padikkal (6). Padikkal, playing his first match of the tournament, disappointed when he edged one to the wicketkeeper.  

The Warriors slide continued, as seamer M. G. Naveen scalped three middle-order wickets. 

Number ten Abhishek Prabhakar (36 n.o., 10b, 1×4, 5×6) gave Warriors some hope when he carted Naveen for four big sixes in the final over. 

Chasing 162, Yodhas was given the perfect launch pad by openers Luvnith Sisodia (56, 32b, 7×4, 2×6) and Tushar Singh (53, 39b, 2×4, 3×6). The duo racked up a 95-run stand in 9.5 overs to deflate Warriors. 

Warriors captain and fast bowler V. Vyshak attempted to break Sisodia with some fiery chat, but to no avail. 

After the openers departed, K.V. Aneesh (35 n.o.) held firm to take Yodhas home.

The scores: Eliminator: Mysuru Warriors 161/9 in 20 overs lost to Shivamogga Yodhas 162/3 in 16.1 overs (Luvnith Sisodia 56, Tushar Singh 53). 

Abhinav Manohar’s explosive 12-ball 46 lit up the DACSS Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 clash between Hubli Tigers and Mysore Warriors before persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned on Thursday. Both teams walked away with one point each.

Reduced to an eight-overs-a-side contest, Hubli Tigers posted 91 for six, thanks to Manohar’s late assault.

Tigers were in trouble at 27 for two after five overs when rain interrupted play, with Kruthik Krishna (23 off 19) and Hardik Raj (2 0ff 4) both retiring hurt, leaving the innings in a precarious position. 

Manohar smashed two fours and six sixes in a whirlwind knock, and was particularly severe on pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar. 

Ritesh Bhatkal was the top performer for the Warriors, picking up two wickets for just 10 runs.

The scores: Hubli Tigers 91/6 in 8 overs (Abhinav Manohar 46) vs. Mysore Warriors (match abandoned due to rain).

The NR Group-owned Mysore Warriors officially launched their preparations for the Maharaja Trophy 2026 with a visit to the Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills on Wednesday (June 10).

The visit, symbolising the start of the team’s training campaign, was led by Arjun Ranga, owner of Mysore Warriors and managing director of Cycle Pure Agarbathi. The team’s head coach, assistant coach and the entire squad participated in the temple visit.

As part of its talent development initiative, the franchise conducted a talent hunt in Mysuru, attracting 75 aspiring cricketers. Following the selection process, 10 players have been shortlisted to train with the senior squad.

The selected players are Manoj Ramesh, Jayanth M.R., Shashank H.C., Gowtham Sagar, Raghavendra M.V., Medansh Urs, Bhuvanesh P. Nayak, Lankesh K.S., Harshavardan and Chaman Nikhil.

According to a press release, the shortlisted players will undergo an intensive training programme alongside the Mysore Warriors squad. At the end of the preparatory phase, two standout performers will earn a place in the team for the upcoming Maharaja Trophy 2026.