The Nagpur edition of the fourth season of MI Junior started on Wednesday in the presence of officials from the Vidarbha Cricket Association.

The Mumbai edition had started last week while the Pune edition started earlier this week. This year, more than 950 players will be taking part in the tournament, which will be held in three categories: Under 14 Boys, Under 16 Boys and Under 15 Girls. A total of 64 teams will be in action in the Nagpur leg.

At the launch of the event in Mumbai, Indian women’s cricketer Yastika Bhatia had lauded the initiative, saying, “It is amazing to see so much passion in young kids for the game of cricket. MI Junior will prove to be an invaluable learning experience for the players and will help them learn a lot of things that will help them in the future. I congratulate MI as well as the state associations for having this tournament. Such tournaments are important for developing the future cricketers as the exposure as well as the facilities are great.”

This annual event serves as a great platform for budding cricketers in Maharashtra, offering them valuable game time and exposure. Organized in collaboration with cricket associations, including the Mumbai Cricket Association, Vidarbha Cricket Association, and Maharashtra Cricket Association, MI Junior aims to contribute to grassroots development and provide opportunities for learning in both education and sports under the Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative. 

On the opening day in Nagpur, Aspire International School and Shri Rajendra High School began with very dominant displays.

Brief Scores:

BOYS U14 

1. Delhi Public School, Mihan 76 all out in 23.5 overs (Sahil Shendre 5/20) lost to Aspire International School, Wardha Road 78/0 in 12.4 overs.

Player of the match: Sahil Shendre 

2. Tip Top Convent School 162 all out in 26.2 overs (Priyansh Gurudiwan 63; Yugansh Kharbade 6/17) lost to Gayatri Convent, Nandanvan 163/5 in 29.2 overs (Anup Premkumar Yadav 78*).

Player of the match: Yugansh Kharbade 

3. Podar International School, Besa 271/7 in 40 overs (Viraj Kapgate 101, Nagesh Umale 76) beat Bhavnas BP Vidhya Mandir, Ashti 68 all out in 23.4 overs (Nagesh Umale 4/15).

Player of the match: Nagesh Umale 

4. Delhi Public School, Lava 76 all out in 21.2 overs (Jehaan Chandarana 3/8) lost to Priyadarshi School 77/2 in 12.4 overs.

Player of the match: Jehaan Chandarana

5. Bhavnas BP Vidya Mandir, Srikrishna Nagar 162/7 in 37 overs beat Centre Point School, Dabha 97 all out in 28.5 overs (Aayush Khopde 6/28). 

Player of the Match: Aayush Khopde

BOYS U16

1. Centre Point School, Katol Road 124/9 in 28 overs (Krishna Chandrashekhar Saratkar 4/20) lost to Somalwar High School, Ramdaspeth 125/7 in 28.3 overs (Aaryav Dhawan 4/23).

Player of the match: Krishna Saratkar

2. Shahu Garden High School, Manewada 173/9 in 40 overs (Sparsh Vinod Kale 70) lost to Sant Sai Convent 174/7 in 25.3 overs (Gauransh 119).

Player of the match: Gauransh

3. Shri Rajendra High School 457/4 in 40 overs (Saras Nerkar 116*, Aaryan Nagpure 92, Adi Shashank Bajaj 91*) beat Somalvar School, Maa Umiya 38 all out in 10 overs (Daksh Yadav 5/2)

Player of the match: Saras Nerkar

4. Bhavnas BP Vidya Mandir, Ashti 203/7 in 39 overs lost to RS Munde English School, Samrathnagar 204/2 in 31.2 overs (Yash Patil 88*, Tanish Fekrikar 72*)

Player of the match: Sameer Tikekar

5. K John Public School 83 all out in 25.3 overs lost to Podar International School, Besa 85/0 in 9.2 overs

Player of the match: Radheya Mahadane 

GIRLS U15

1. Vidhya Sadhna Jaitala 30 all out in 11.5 overs (Sharanya Shailendra Hirde 5/7, Anjali Bhagat 3/7) lost to MKH Sancheti Public School 31/1 in 4.5 overs.

Player of the match: Anjali Bhagat

2. The South Public School 102/2 in 20 overs beat Jindal Public School, Dattawadi 46/9 in 14.3 overs (Krishna Barri 4/7).

Player of the match: Krishna Barri