The Gwalior Cheetahs beat the Malwa Stallions by 51 runs in Match 8 of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) 2026. The game happened at the Daly College Ground in Indore. The Stallions won the toss and chose to bowl first. But they could not stop the Cheetahs from putting up a massive score.
The Gwalior Cheetahs set a huge target of 190 for 7 in their 20 overs. Rajat Patidar led from the front. Just a day after missing out on the India national squad selection, he answered the critics with his bat. He smashed a breathtaking 65 runs from just 30 balls, rocking a massive strike rate of 216.67.
His explosive knock included 6 fours and 4 sixes before he was caught off Harshwardhan Singh's bowling. After Patidar fell in the 17th over, Mangesh Yadav kept the momentum going. Yadav hit a quick, unbeaten 33 runs to push the final score to 190. Vineet Rawat was the most active bowler for the Stallions, picking up 4 wickets, though he gave away 47 runs in his 4 overs.
Harshwardhan Singh bowled well, taking 2 wickets for just 14 runs. The Malwa Stallions needed 191 runs to win but were bowled out for 139 runs in 17.1 overs. Left-arm spinner Saumy Pandey was too hot to handle. He ruined the Stallions' batting order by taking 3 wickets for 28 runs in his 4 overs. Mangesh Yadav capped off his brilliant all-round day by taking the last wicket of Vineet Rawat, who was caught by Vikas Sharma. This sealed the game in the 18th over.
Gwalior Cheetahs make comeback after losing match against Ujjain Falcons
The Gwalior Cheetahs bounced back in style after a brutal opening-match defeat. Their journey from a heavy loss to a dominant win highlights their incredible comeback story in the tournament. Giving up 221 runs shattered the bowlers' confidence. When the batters collapsed for 129 in just 14.2 overs, the team's morale hit an all-time low.
In short league tournaments, a 92-run loss is almost a death sentence. It severely damaged their NRR, meaning they didn't just need to win their next games, they had to win them by massive margins to survive. Instead of playing safe after the previous collapse, Patidar came out with extreme aggression. His 65 off 30 balls sent a message to the rest of the dugout that they were not going to play scared.
When Patidar got out, the Gwalior of Match 1 would have crumbled. This time, Mangesh Yadav stepped up. His 33 ensured the team crossed the psychological barrier of 180, finishing at a powerhouse 190. Defending a big total, the bowlers didn't give away easy boundaries.
Saumy Pandey’s 3 for 28 was a masterclass in T20 spin bowling. He bowled defensive lines that forced the Stallions into making risky mistakes. They wiped out a massive chunk of the negative run rate caused by the Ujjain Falcons. They showed the rest of the league that they can survive a beating and come back even hungrier.
