By Manvindar Singh 
In a heart-pounding finish to the Madhya Pradesh League 2025, Bhopal Leopards emerged victorious over Chambal Ghariyals by a razor-thin margin of 2 runs at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior.
On a day that had everything — early collapses, fiery comebacks, and last-over drama — it was fielding brilliance and composure under pressure that sealed Bhopal’s maiden MPL title.
Bhopal Leopards posted 156, recovering from a mid-innings slide that saw them lose seven wickets for just 34 runs. After being 73/1, they crashed to 107/7 before a late surge pushed them past the 150-run mark.
While none of the batters crossed 40, crucial contributions from Harsh Dixit, Madhav Tiwari, and Aniket Verma gave the bowlers something to defend.
Chambal Ghariyals’ bowling unit did well to limit the damage. Aman Bhadoriya, in particular, stood out with sensational figures of 2/8 in just 2 overs, applying pressure during the middle phase.
Chasing 157, Chambal’s top order collapsed spectacularly, reeling at 22/4 inside the Powerplay, thanks to incisive spells from Arshad Khan (2/21) and Shivang Kumar (1/22).
However, Shubham Sharma (51 off 45) and Tripuresh Singh (53 off 28) orchestrated a near-miracle. Their counterattacking partnership brought the equation down to 13 needed off the final over.
The final over saw edge-of-the-seat action. With boundaries drying up and pressure mounting, Chambal fell just 2 runs short, finishing on 154/7 in 20 overs.
Player of the Match went to Aniket Verma, whose impact transcended his batting. He took three sharp catches, turned the momentum with a game-changing partnership, and maintained calm in clutch moments — a true difference-maker in the final.
Captain Arshad Khan praised his team’s resilience:
“We kept believing. The bowlers stayed disciplined, and Aniket’s fielding was top class.”
For Chambal Ghariyals, it was heartbreak but not without pride.
Shubham Sharma, their standout performer, reflected:
“We gave it everything. Proud of the fight — we’ll return stronger.”
With this narrow win, the Bhopal Leopards etched their name into MPL folklore, showing that big moments are won not just with the bat or ball, but with heart, hustle, and presence of mind.
Zainab Shafiq