The defending champions, Kashi Rudras, delivered a statement performance in a must-win encounter, defeating the table-topping Meerut Mavericks by 56 runs in Match 29 of the UP T20 League 2026 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Gaur Gorakhpur Lions and Kanpur Superstars have been officially eliminated from the tournament. For his phenomenal bowling display that derailed the chase, Kartik Yadav was rightfully named the Player of the Match. Played at Kanpur’s historic Green Park Stadium, a venue boasting a legacy of 40 international matches, the result finalises the playoff picture for the season. The Meerut Mavericks retain the top spot with 15 points, followed by the Lucknow Falcons in second with 13 points. Kashi Rudras and Noida Kings complete the top four, finishing third and fourth respectively with 10 points each. Kartik delivered a sensational spell, finishing with figures of 3/12 in his four overs, suffocating the Meerut top order and leaving them reeling at 70/5 in 13 overs.
The drama peaked on the first ball of the 17th over when Impact Player Sangam Singh struck immediately, completing a spectacular team hat-trick spanning across the two overs. With the league stage concluded, the tournament now enters its decisive playoff phase. Due to persistent rain and wet outfield conditions in Kanpur, all playoff matches have been officially shifted to the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2, 7:30 PM IST
