Puneri Bappa

Puneri Bappa is a key franchise in the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL), a domestic T20 cricket tournament in India that showcases regional talent from Maharashtra. Based in Pune, a city renowned for its vibrant cricket culture, Puneri Bappa embodies the pride and passion of Puneites. The team is renowned for its combination of experienced domestic players and promising young talent, having established itself as a competitive force in the MPL since its inception.

The team is owned by the Suhana Sahyadri Sujanils 4S Group and led by Yash Kshirsagar in the 2025 season, with Smriti Mandhana as their icon player for the women’s team. Puneri Bappa aims to build on their last season in 2025. Their home ground, the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, serves as a fortress where they receive passionate support from local fans.

With a vibrant fan base and a commitment to entertaining cricket, Puneri Bappa has established a unique presence in Maharashtra's cricket landscape. They focus on nurturing local talent while competing for glory in the T20 format.

Puneri Bappa Cricket Team History

Puneri Bappa was founded as part of the Maharashtra Premier League, which began in 2023 to promote T20 cricket in Maharashtra and provide a platform for local players to shine alongside established stars. The team's name is derived from "Bappa", a beloved nickname for Lord Ganesha, reflecting Pune's cultural reverence for the deity. Since its formation, Puneri Bappa has been performing consistently well in the MPL, known for its aggressive batting line-up and disciplined bowling attack.

In the inaugural MPL season (2023), Puneri Bappa reached the playoffs, showcasing their potential under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Despite being a relatively new team, Puneri Bappa has taken full advantage of Pune's cricketing infrastructure, including the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium, where they play their home matches. The team's management has focused on scouting talent from local leagues in Pune, creating a steady pipeline of skilled players. Over the years, Puneri Bappa has become a fan favourite, with their passion drawing in fans.

Puneri Bappa Cricket Team Information: Owner, Captain, Coach

The Puneri Bappa Cricket Team is owned by the Suhana Sahyadri Suajnils 4S Group, a consortium of leading businesses based in Pune, reflecting strong local investment and commitment to sports development. The ownership of 4S Puneri Bappa in MPL involves a partnership among key business figures – Vishal Chordia, Ashish Desai, Satyen Patel and Sunil Mittal. The franchise has quickly carved out a strong identity in the league. Under the leadership of Yash Kshirsagar, who presently leads the team this 2025 season, the team combines youthful energy with solid experience.

The franchise's home ground is the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The captain of the team is Ruturaj Gaikwad and coached by Sanadiip Chavan. Avadhoot Dandekar is the assistant coach of the team.

Talking about Puneri Bappa's jersey, it features vibrant blue and yellow colours, reflecting Pune’s youthful energy. Their logo features a stylised Ganapati figure, symbolising wisdom, strength and the city's cultural roots.

Head Coach: Sanadiip Chavan

A skilled domestic cricket strategist, Sanadiip Chavan focuses on player development and tactical innovation. His coaching philosophy focuses on discipline, adaptability and maximising local talent.

Assistant Coach: Avadhoot Dandekar

Avadhoot Dandeka, the assistant coach of the Puneri Bappa, comes from Maharashtra. He has played five first-class matches and three List-A games for Maharashtra. Presently, he is 34 and is among the youngest coaches in this tournament.

Fielding Coach: Nilesh Sansare

Nilesh Sansare, the fielding coach, is responsible for developing and executing technical, tactical, and physical fielding programs.

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ajit Chavan

Strength and Conditioning Coach, Ajit Chavan, designs individual training regimes to enhance core stability, endurance and explosive power. His work ensures that players remain fit, flexible and prepared for the demands of modern cricket.

Physiotherapist: Amit Singh

Physiotherapist Amit Singh is responsible for focusing on injury prevention, rehabilitation and recovery of players. He manages both acute and long-term injuries, helping players return to top performance safely and efficiently.

Puneri Bappa Cricket Team Performance in MPL Over the Years

Debuted in 2023 in the Maharashtra Premier League, the Puneri Bappa franchise quickly became a fan favourite with their impressive performances. In the first season, the team qualified for the playoffs, while the 2024 season turned out to be challenging as they finished at the bottom of the table.

In the 2023 season, Pawan Shah scored the most runs for the team. He scored 185 runs in 7 matches, including two fifties. The top bowler for the Puneri Bappa in the 2023 season was Sachin Bhosale. He took 14 wickets in seven matches. Bhosale was also the Purple Cap winner of that season.

In the 2024 MPL edition, the captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, hit the most runs for the team. In nine games, he scored 313 runs, including two half-centuries. Sachin Bhosale took the most wickets for Puneri Bappa in this season as well. He took 13 wickets in 10 matches, finishing in 6th place in the Purple Cap race.

Puneri Bappa Cricket Team Records

Below are notable team records of Puneri Bappa, focusing on their MPL performances.

• Highest Team Total: Smashed 210/4 against Eagle Nashik Titans in the 2024 season. Beat Titans by 59 runs (DLS method).

• Highest Individual Score: Ruturaj Gaikwad scored the highest score for Puneri Bappa. In the 2024 season, he scored 89 runs in a match against the Eagle Nashik Titans.

• Best Bowling Figures: Sachin Bhosale took 4 wickets off 9 runs in the 2024 season against the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kinds (CSK).

Puneri Bappa Cricket Team Fan Trivia and Social Media Links

Fan Trivia

• Cultural Connection: The team’s name “Puneri Bappa” pays tribute to Lord Ganesha, resonating deeply with Pune’s residents, who affectionately call the deity “Bappa.” Fans often bring Ganesha-themed banners to matches.
• Ruturaj’s Banter: During a match in MPL 2024, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad playfully teased Azim Kazi of the Ratnagiri Jets, a moment that endeared the team to fans due to their camaraderie.
• Fanbase Nickname: Supporters are called the “Bappa Brigade,” known for their vibrant cheers at MCA Stadium.

Social Media Links

• Twitter/X: x.com/4sBappa51793 
• Instagram: instagram.com/puneribappaofficialmpl/ 
• Facebook: facebook.com/puneribappaofficialmpl