Andhra Premier League Matches to Be Held Across Three Major Venues in AP
The opening ceremony would take place at the Mangalagiri cricket stadium on June 3 and the grand finale will be in Visakhapatnam on June 28
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Cricket Association has set the stage for the spectacular fifth edition of the Andhra Premier League in 2026, with matches to be held across three major venues in the state.
The announcement was made at the ACA office here following a meeting of APL franchise owners chaired by APL governing council chairman Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao.
Ranga Rao said Season-5 would be “bigger and more vibrant” than the previous editions. While the earlier seasons were confined to Visakhapatnam, this year’s tournament would also feature matches in Mangalagiri and Kadapa, expanding the league’s footprint across Andhra Pradesh.
Player auction would be on April 25, while the matches would be held from June 3 to 28. The opening ceremony would take place at the Mangalagiri cricket stadium on June 3 and the grand finale will be in Visakhapatnam on June 28.
ACA president and MP Kesineni Sivanath said the association is committed to ensuring statewide participation. “The Mangalagiri stadium is being upgraded at a cost of `35 crore and this would soon function as the APL headquarters. Minor works are also being completed at the Kadapa stadium to host matches this season.”
Emphasising the Rural Cricket vision, ACA secretary Sana Satish Babu said the auction purse has been enhanced from `45 lakh to `55 lakh to benefit players. Domestic district matches are being conducted two months in advance, and zonal games would be organised in Mangalagiri and Kadapa.
Seven teams — including Bhimavaram Bulls, Tungabhadra Warriors, Capital Amaravati Royals, Vijayawada Sun Shiners, Kakinada Kings, Simhadri Vizag Lions and Royals of Rayalaseema — would compete.
Notably, players such as Nitish Reddy, who has featured in IPL matches, are expected to participate.
To ensure transparency and discipline, a retired police officer would be appointed as ethics officer for each team throughout the tournament.
Officials expressed confidence that APL 2026 will strengthen grassroots cricket and elevate Andhra Pradesh’s standing in the sport.
