Dehradun Warriors Crowned UPL 2026 Champions
Dehradun Warriors defeated Haridwar Elmas by 36 runs to lift the UPL 2026 trophy at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
The Dehradun Warriors have etched their names in history as the kings of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) 2026. In a high-octane final held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, the Warriors clinical performance secured a 36-run victory over Haridwar Elmas, lifting the Season 3 trophy.
Kunal Chandela's Explosive Fifty-One Ball Blitz
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Dehradun Warriors faced an immediate crisis. The opposition bowlers struck early, leaving the home side reeling at just 22 runs for the loss of two key wickets. However, captain Kunal Chandela refused to let the championship slip away.
Chandela played a masterful innings, blending aggression with calculated strokeplay. He hammered a sensational 90 runs off only 51 deliveries, an innings decorated with eight boundaries and four massive sixes. His strike rate of 176.47 provided the backbone of the Dehradun innings.
He found a reliable partner in Mohammad Uzair Malik, who played a crucial supporting role. Malik contributed a brisk 64 runs from 46 balls, including four fours and four sixes. Their partnership propelled Dehradun to a formidable total of 197/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Aditya Rawat Destroys Haridwar's Chase
Chasing a daunting target of 198, Haridwar Elmas's campaign was doomed from the very first over. They lost their opening wicket without scoring on just the third ball of the match, setting a tone of immediate pressure.
While Shashwat Dangwal played a heroic lone hand for Haridwar, smashing 59 runs off 31 balls with five boundaries and five sixes, the rest of the lineup crumbled under the relentless Dehradun bowling attack.
The star of the bowling department was Aditya Rawat, who delivered a spell of pure destruction. Rawat tore through the Haridwar middle and lower order, finishing with incredible figures of 4 wickets for just 19 runs in 3.4 overs.
The supporting cast was equally effective:
- Abhishek Singh: 2 wickets for 39 runs in 4 overs.
- Sumit Juyal: 2 wickets for 27 runs in 3 overs.
- Devendra S. Bora & Neeraj Singh Rathore: 1 wicket each.
Haridwar Elmas was eventually bundled out for 161 in 19.4 overs, handing the Dehradun Warriors a convincing 36-run win and the glory of the UPL Season 3 title. The Warriors' dominance throughout the season, having finished at the top of the points table, was rightfully rewarded on the grandest stage.