Cuttack, Sept. 21 (UDN): The inaugural edition of the Odisha T20 League CM Trophy 2026 got underway at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi describing the tournament as a major step towards identifying and nurturing cricketing talent from across Odisha’s 30 districts.
Pic Credit: x.com/cricket_odisha
Launching the league on Sunday, the Chief Minister said cricket has become the fifth discipline under the Chief Minister’s Trophy after football, kho-kho, kabaddi and volleyball, creating a new pathway for aspiring cricketers from rural areas to showcase their abilities.
Pic Credit: x.com/cricket_odisha
Cricket Added to Chief Minister’s Trophy
Addressing players and officials, Majhi said sports have evolved beyond competition into a promising career avenue for young athletes. He noted that the rapid growth of T20 and league-format cricket has created fresh opportunities for emerging players and expressed confidence that the new tournament would help Odisha produce more national and IPL-level cricketers.
The Chief Minister also praised the Odisha Cricket Association’s initiative to establish an Under-14 cricket academy, calling it an important step in building a strong talent pipeline for the state.
Raina, Debashish Mohanty Named League Ambassadors
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina and Odisha’s former international cricketer Debashish Mohanty have joined the tournament as league ambassadors.
Speaking at the inauguration, Raina recalled representing India against Sri Lanka at Barabati Stadium during his playing days and said the new league would inspire young cricketers to pursue their passion for the sport.
Push for Sports Infrastructure
Highlighting the state’s broader sports development plans, Majhi said the government is constructing modern stadiums across all 314 blocks in Odisha at an estimated cost of ₹4,124 crore.
He also announced plans for a high-tech sports complex at Gothapatna in Bhubaneswar and reiterated the government’s commitment to renovating Barabati Stadium into one of India’s premier sporting venues.
Dignitaries Attend Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony was attended by several public representatives, including Chief Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous, Cuttack Sadar MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi, Cuttack-Choudwar MLA Souvic Biswal, Angul MLA and OCA Apex Council member Pratap Chandra Pradhan, and Tirtol MLA Ramakanta Bhoi.
Odisha Cricket Association President Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Vice-President Jagamohan Pattnaik, Secretary Sanjay Behera, former cricketer Debashish Mohanty, along with OCA officials, coaches, players and other dignitaries, were also present at the launch of the tournament.