119/9 (20.0)
CR : 5.95
118/10 (19.3)
CR : 6.05
Meerut Mavericks won by 1 wicket 🏆
Player of the Match
Yash Garg
4/1923(14)*
Dependable Bowler of the Match: Yash Garg
Best Catch of the Match: Rituraj Sharma
Most Fours in the Match: Rinku Singh
Most Sixes in the Match: Abhishek Goswami
Rinku Singh (Meerut Mavericks Captain): "(On things getting nervous in this close game) No, not really. It was a little bit nervous, because we didn't bat as well as we would have liked. Considering the kind of team we are and the way we want to play, we'll just come up with a better plan for the next match.
(On giving his inputs to the team) That's exactly what we discussed after the first innings. I said it's ball by ball and run by run. If you're scoring 30 runs from 30 balls and the team is winning, that's okay for us. But if our batters are getting out playing the wrong shots, that's something we'll look to improve in the next match.
(On the conditions) They bowled really well. We could have batted a little better and shown more intent. The ball was gripping a little for the spinners, while the medium pacers were getting some movement as well.
(On starting campaign with a win) Winning the first match gives the team confidence, so it was really good for us, especially because the game became quite tight. When Yash hit that boundary with a cover scoop in the last over, I told Swastik, "Brother, it's his day today. He's already got four wickets, he's fielding well—who knows, he might finish it with the bat too." And that's exactly what happened.
(On Yash Garg) Yash is a very hardworking boy. He's been with our team for three years, and he's been doing really well for us throughout that time. He's good at everything—batting, fielding and bowling. When someone works hard on their batting and bowling, they will always keep improving. (On enjoying captaincy) Yes, I enjoyed it. I'm still learning captaincy and getting better at it. It's fun making those changes—sometimes Vishal, sometimes Yash, sometimes Jishan. I enjoy managing the bowling like that.
(On his bowling) Yeah, it does feel good when you're captain because you can bring yourself on to bowl. My mindset today was that there was a left-hander and then a new right-handed batter, so I felt I could get two overs out of myself there."
(On giving his inputs to the team) That's exactly what we discussed after the first innings. I said it's ball by ball and run by run. If you're scoring 30 runs from 30 balls and the team is winning, that's okay for us. But if our batters are getting out playing the wrong shots, that's something we'll look to improve in the next match.
(On the conditions) They bowled really well. We could have batted a little better and shown more intent. The ball was gripping a little for the spinners, while the medium pacers were getting some movement as well.
(On starting campaign with a win) Winning the first match gives the team confidence, so it was really good for us, especially because the game became quite tight. When Yash hit that boundary with a cover scoop in the last over, I told Swastik, "Brother, it's his day today. He's already got four wickets, he's fielding well—who knows, he might finish it with the bat too." And that's exactly what happened.
(On Yash Garg) Yash is a very hardworking boy. He's been with our team for three years, and he's been doing really well for us throughout that time. He's good at everything—batting, fielding and bowling. When someone works hard on their batting and bowling, they will always keep improving. (On enjoying captaincy) Yes, I enjoyed it. I'm still learning captaincy and getting better at it. It's fun making those changes—sometimes Vishal, sometimes Yash, sometimes Jishan. I enjoy managing the bowling like that.
(On his bowling) Yeah, it does feel good when you're captain because you can bring yourself on to bowl. My mindset today was that there was a left-hander and then a new right-handed batter, so I felt I could get two overs out of myself there."
Player of the Match: Yash Garg
Yash Garg (POTM): "[On his performance] I never dreamt of it, but I had the belief that if such a situation came, I was ready for it. Usually my batting doesn't come, but I had worked hard for this moment and thankfully, I got the team over the line.
[What was his thinking when he went into bat?] Just wanted to take the game deep. Everyone in our team can bat, so we had the belief. The wicket was good and there was dew, we though we can win the game.
[On executing big shots in the last over] I had no other choice but to go for the big hits, good that they came off.
[On his bowling] I have been playing for four years but I was more nervous than ever before. Got a wicket on the first ball and that helped. Each year, I try to bowl at the stumps. I bowl in the powerplay and at crucial stages, I just try to stay in line of the stumps.
[Does bowling well help to bat well?] No, I wasn't taking batting seriously in the last few years. I worked on my batting and the good thing about our team is that we have two other spinners who bowl well, so I just try to bowl in tandem with them."
[What was his thinking when he went into bat?] Just wanted to take the game deep. Everyone in our team can bat, so we had the belief. The wicket was good and there was dew, we though we can win the game.
[On executing big shots in the last over] I had no other choice but to go for the big hits, good that they came off.
[On his bowling] I have been playing for four years but I was more nervous than ever before. Got a wicket on the first ball and that helped. Each year, I try to bowl at the stumps. I bowl in the powerplay and at crucial stages, I just try to stay in line of the stumps.
[Does bowling well help to bat well?] No, I wasn't taking batting seriously in the last few years. I worked on my batting and the good thing about our team is that we have two other spinners who bowl well, so I just try to bowl in tandem with them."
What a cracker we've had in Lucknow to start the UPT20 League 2026! It was a clash between last year's finalists, and boy, did it live up to the hype. Rinku Singh turned coach/manager from the sidelines and guided Yash Garg to take the Meerut Mavericks over the line.
Kashi Rudras had the game in their hands until the final over. Defending 19 runs, Vaibhav Chaudhary failed to execute his plans and was taken to the cleaners by Yash Garg, who smashed two sixes and a boundary in the over to help the Mavericks seal a thrilling last-ball win.
That's all we have for you from the curtain-raiser of the UPT20 League 2026. A double-header is coming up later today. This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues, Mohammad Anab and Raju Khariya. Good night!