UP Brij Stars Begin Big Cricket League 2026 Campaign

Greater Noida News (04/06/2026): The second season of the Big Cricket League (BCL) got underway in grand fashion at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida, with UP Brij Stars delivering a dominant performance to defeat defending champions Mumbai Marines by six wickets in the tournament opener.

Led by former India opener Shikhar Dhawan, the UP Brij Stars produced a clinical all-round display to successfully chase down a challenging target of 172 runs. The victory provided the franchise, owned by SS Group, with a perfect start to its Season 2 campaign and sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.

Mumbai Marines, captained by former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, won the toss and opted to bat first. Despite a determined effort with the bat, the defending champions could only manage 171 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs as the Brij Stars bowlers kept them under pressure throughout the innings.

In reply, UP Brij Stars approached the chase with confidence and composure. Captain Shikhar Dhawan led from the front with a match-winning knock of 80 runs from just 53 deliveries. The veteran left-hander showcased his class and experience, striking seven boundaries and four sixes while maintaining a strike rate of 150.94. His innings laid the foundation for a successful chase and ensured his side remained in control for most of the contest.

Dhawan’s aggressive yet calculated batting put the Mumbai bowling attack on the back foot and significantly reduced the pressure of the required run rate. Even after his dismissal, caught by Irfan Pathan off the bowling of Hooda, the momentum firmly remained with the Brij Stars.

The finishing touches were provided by C. J. Gandhi and V. Sikarwar, who displayed excellent composure in the closing stages. Gandhi contributed a valuable unbeaten 32 runs off 21 balls, while Sikarwar added a quickfire 17 not out from just nine deliveries. The pair stitched together an unbroken 38-run partnership from only 19 balls, guiding their team to 172 for 4 in 18.4 overs and sealing victory with eight balls to spare.

For his outstanding leadership and match-defining innings, Shikhar Dhawan was named Player of the Match. Speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, the UP Brij Stars skipper expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and praised the collective effort that helped secure an emphatic opening-day victory.

With this convincing triumph over the reigning champions, UP Brij Stars have launched their Big Cricket League 2026 campaign in impressive fashion and established themselves as one of the early contenders for the title.

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