The Odisha Pro T20 League 2026 CM Trophy features six franchise teams that represent different regions of the state. Each side has finalised its 16-player squad through the official draft conducted by the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) on September 7, 2026. The tournament runs from September 20 to September 29 at the historic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, with a single round-robin followed by the Qualifier and the Final.
This year brings two notable identity changes on the team front. Defending champions Cuttack Panthers now compete as the Kataka Panthers, while Rourkela Steelers have been rebranded as Rourkela Superstars. There has also been a large-scale reshuffle of marquee players, with several 2025 captains moving to new franchises through the fresh draft. This article covers the full 16-player squad, captain, and coaching staff of each of the six teams competing in the 2026 season.
About the Franchise Structure
Each of the six franchises in the Odisha Pro T20 League 2026 has a squad of 16 players selected through a merit-based draft system. The draft was conducted by the Odisha Cricket Association on September 7, 2026, with all franchises finalising their line-ups on the same day. Players are graded across categories, ranging from Marquee down to Category D, with match fees running from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1,25,000 per game depending on the category.
Every team is built around a marquee player, most of whom have Ranji Trophy experience for Odisha, and is supported by a full coaching staff comprising a head coach and an assistant coach. In the league stage, each franchise plays five matches in the round-robin format, meaning every side faces every other team once. The top two teams from the standings then move to the Qualifier and the Final.
Kataka Panthers (Cuttack Panthers)
Defending Champions
The Kataka Panthers, previously known as Cuttack Panthers, are the defending champions of the Odisha Pro T20 League. Representing the ancient city of Cuttack, one of Odisha’s oldest cricketing hubs, the Panthers won the inaugural 2025 title by beating Sambalpur Warriors by 5 runs (DLS method) in a rain-affected final. They are backed by Bharat Masala as their principal partner and enter Season 2 under new leadership, aiming to become the first side to lift the trophy twice in a row.
- Head Coach: Pravanjan Mullick
- Assistant Coach: Deepak Mangaraj
- Captain: Biplab Samantaray
A former Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad player, Biplab Samantaray brings IPL experience to the side and famously scored a half-century in the Indian Premier League.
Full Squad: Biplab Samantaray (C), D Ayush, M Goutam Gopal, Soumya Ranjan Biswal, Sibun Nanda, Abhiroop Das, Sarthak S Prakash, Subhasis Mallick, Raaz Yadav, Priyansu Mohanty, Piyus Mantri, Abhishek Singh, Prasant Rana, Kartik Biswal, Sourav Gouda and Subham Satrujit.
Sambalpur Warriors
Season 1 Runners-Up
The Sambalpur Warriors represent the historic textile city of Sambalpur in western Odisha. In the inaugural 2025 season, the Warriors went all the way to the final before losing narrowly to Cuttack Panthers, finishing as runners-up. They open the 2026 season on September 20 against defending champions Kataka Panthers in a repeat of last year’s title clash, giving them an immediate chance to settle scores.
- Head Coach: Basant Mohanty
- Assistant Coach: Rakesh Mohanty
- Captain: Gaurav Choudhury
Gaurav Choudhury takes over the captaincy for Season 2, moving into a leadership role after playing for Bhubaneswar Tigers in the 2025 edition.
Full Squad: Gaurav Choudhury (C), Swoop Samith Bhuyan, Bikram Kishor Samal, Ankit Yadav, Debabrata Pradhan Jr, Mahesh Sahoo, Baibhab Mohanty, Sarthak Panda, Panakala Mokshit, Shantanu Mishra, MD Danish, Saideep Mohapatra, Pradeep Pradhan, Sayed Tufayl Ahmad, Om T Munde and Soumya Ranjan Lenka.
Bhubaneswar Tigers
Team from the State Capital
The Bhubaneswar Tigers represent Odisha’s capital city and are one of the most followed franchises in the league. Known for their aggressive brand of cricket, the Tigers were among the strong performers in the inaugural season and open their 2026 campaign on September 21 against Keonjhar Miners in a Monday afternoon fixture.
- Head Coach: Subit Biswal
- Assistant Coach: Bibhudatta Panda
- Captain: Swastik Samal
Swastik Samal, who captained defending champions Cuttack Panthers in the 2025 season, has joined the Tigers as captain and marquee player for Season 2. He is a dependable all-rounder and a regular in the Odisha Ranji Trophy line-up.
Full Squad: Swastik Samal (C), Rajesh Mohanty, Shreyansh Bhardwaj, Badal Biswal, Ashutosh Chhuria, Sambit Beja, MD Sohail Khan, Dinesh Kumar Majhi, Gyana Ranjan Nayak, Rudra Prasad Mallick, Janam Jay Jena, Swayambhu Palai, Ritesh Priyaranjan, Rakesh Pattanaik, Umesh Kumar Goutam and Shashikant Yadav.
Puri Titans
The Coastal Franchise
The Puri Titans represent the coastal temple town of Puri, home to the iconic Jagannath Temple and one of Odisha’s most recognisable destinations. The Titans have built a balanced squad for 2026, mixing top-order batters with experienced all-rounders and disciplined bowlers. Their opening fixture is against Kataka Panthers on September 22, and they play their evening opener against Bhubaneswar Tigers on September 24.
- Head Coach: Preetamjit Das
- Assistant Coach: Ashish Savita
- Captain: Aditya Rout
Aditya Rout leads the Puri Titans for the 2026 season, heading a squad that includes marquee player Aashirwad Swain, who captained the Sambalpur Warriors in Season 1.
Full Squad: Aditya Rout (C), Nihar B Bhuyan, Deepak Tiwari, Sreeyanshu Pattnaik, Ayush Sutar, Swayam Srivastava, Chandeep Riar, Anil Parida, Krishna Mohanty, Sunil Roul, Panakala Sasanka, Aditya Anand, Sumit Sharma, Aashirwad Swain, Sarbeswar Mohanty and Tarani Sa.
Rourkela Superstars
Formerly Rourkela Steelers
The Rourkela Superstars, rebranded from Rourkela Steelers for the 2026 season, represent the industrial belt of western Odisha with its strong cricketing culture. The team brings together players from Rourkela and surrounding districts, giving lesser-known cricketers a professional platform. They kick off their campaign on September 21 against Sambalpur Warriors.
- Head Coach: Sanjay Raul
- Assistant Coach: Prashant Sahoo
- Captain: Govinda Poddar
Govinda Poddar, who captained the Keonjhar Miners in Season 1, has moved to lead the Superstars in 2026. He is a stylish middle-order batter with plenty of experience across formats for Odisha.
Full Squad: Govinda Poddar (C), Sambit Baral, Sawan Pahariya, Biswajeet Pradhan, Asutosh Marndi, Pappu Roy, Sandeep Pattanaik, Bivash Shaw, Akash Mohapatra, Subham Priyadarshi, Prayan Samal, Sobhan Dev Behera, Dibyam Chhapadia, Abhishek Kumar Yadav, Soubhagya Rout and Omkar Mohanty.
Keonjhar Miners
Team from the Mineral Belt
The Keonjhar Miners represent the mineral-rich northern district of Keonjhar and give a platform to cricketers from smaller towns across northern Odisha. The Miners rely on a mix of grit, youth, and all-round balance and often punch above their weight. They start their tournament on September 21 in the very first afternoon match of the league stage against Bhubaneswar Tigers.
- Head Coach: Suryakant Pradhan
- Assistant Coach: Girija Rout
- Captain: Subhransu Senapati
Subhransu Senapati, who captained the Rourkela Steelers in Season 1, has taken over the captaincy of Keonjhar Miners in 2026. He is a seasoned top-order batter for Odisha and a former India U-19 star.
Full Squad: Subhransu Senapati (C), Rajesh Dhupar, Debabrata Pradhan, Jamala Mohapatra, Sujal Singh, Prayash Kumar Singh, Vageesh Sharma, Ayush Barik, Vimal Kumar, Jogeswar Bag, Swagat Sourav Mishra, Arnab Patnaik, Mayank Pattanayak, Kshyama Sagar Bal, Rakesh Biswal and Soyanshu Pattanayak.
Brand Ambassadors of the League
The Odisha Pro T20 League 2026 CM Trophy is being represented by two brand ambassadors, Suresh Raina and Debashish Mohanty. Suresh Raina, one of India’s most celebrated T20 batters and a former IPL winner with Chennai Super Kings, adds national star power to the tournament.
Debashish Mohanty, a former India pacer and Odisha’s most successful international cricketer, provides the local cricketing credibility that connects the league back to its home audience. Their combined presence is aimed at raising the profile of the tournament and helping local cricketers get noticed by IPL scouts and national selectors.
Conclusion: Kataka Panthers Will Enter Season 2 As Reigning Champions
The six teams of the Odisha Pro T20 League 2026 CM Trophy bring together a strong mix of experienced Ranji Trophy campaigners, promising district-level talent, and one IPL-experienced marquee in Biplab Samantaray. The rebranded Kataka Panthers and Rourkela Superstars headline a season built on a fresh draft, new captains, and reshaped squads across almost every team.
With defending champions Kataka Panthers looking to become the first team to win back-to-back titles, and the rest of the field packed with players eager to catch the eye of IPL scouts and national selectors, the 2026 CM Trophy promises intense competition across all 17 matches at Barabati Stadium. Bookmark this page for team updates, squad changes, and any late additions before the tournament gets underway.