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Adani Group signs on as title sponsor for Madhya Pradesh League’s 2025 cricket season
MUMBAI: If cricket had a homecoming king, Gwalior would be donning the crown for the second year running. The Madhya Pradesh League (MPL), gearing up for its second season, has announced the Adani Group as its title sponsor for 2025. The season kicks off 12 June at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Shankarpur, Gwalior.
Organised by the Gwalior Division Cricket Association (GDCA) under the MP Cricket Association, the MPL is widening its playing field. The men’s tournament will now feature seven teams, up from five last year, with new entrants from Bundelkhand and Chambal. For the first time, the league also launches a women’s competition, introducing three teams to the turf—including one from Bhopal.
MPL Chairman Mahanaaryaman Scindia said, “We are happy to have Adani Group as our title sponsor… We look forward to an exciting season”.
A spokesperson from Adani Group added, “We are thrilled to be associated with the Madhya Pradesh League… We look forward to a season full of inspiring performances”.
The jersey unveiling on 27 May offered fans a first look at the kits of all 10 franchises—seven men’s and three women’s—turning the spotlight on fresh branding and team identities. Players, team officials, and state dignitaries attended the ceremony, which amped up anticipation ahead of the opening match.
Gwalior, host of the MPL’s inaugural edition in 2024, will once again stage the entire season. With Adani’s backing and the expansion of both men’s and women’s leagues, the MPL aims to entrench itself as a premier state-level cricket property.
Men’s teams: Gwalior Cheetahs, Bhopal Leopards, Jabalpur Royal Lions, Rewa Jaguars, Indore Pink Panthers, Chambal Ghariyals, Bundelkhand Bulls
Women’s teams: Chambal Ghariyals, Bhopal Wolves, Bundelkhand Bulls
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
