Gulbarga Mystics to face Bengaluru Blasters in Maharaja Trophy season opener

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 15 : The third season of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 will kick off with an exciting doubleheader at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The season's opener will see Devdutt Padikkal-led Gulbarga Mystics face off against Mayank Agarwal's Bengaluru Blasters.
The action will continue with Nihal Ullal leading the Shivamogga Lions as they take on the Mysore Warriors, led by Karun Nair, in the second fixture of the day.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Luvnith Sisodia, who turned up for the Gulbarga Mystics this year, expressed confidence in the team's composition.
"We have a very strong squad heading into the competition, and I believe we are well-prepared to make a significant impact," Sisodia was quoted in a release from the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 as saying.
Sisodia, who will be joining Padikkal at the top of the order, shared his excitement about their partnership.
"Devdutt and I have batted together extensively. We understand each other's game, and we're looking forward to contributing together," he added.
Meanwhile, Mysore Warriors captain Karun Nair, last season's top run-scorer, emphasized the team's positive morale ahead of the match against the Shivamogga Lions.
"The key for us is to take it one game at a time. Our camp in Mysore has been crucial for team bonding, and we've had productive practice sessions. I'm focused on replicating last season's success, but my primary goal is to lead the team to victories," Nair said.
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host all matches, with league games taking place from August 15 to August 29.
The semifinals are set for August 30 and 31, leading up to the tournament's final on September 1. Teams will compete in a round-robin format, facing each opponent twice. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals.