Bhubaneswar: OCL Iron & Steels Limited has entered Odisha’s professional cricket ecosystem as the franchise owner of Keonjhar Miners for the upcoming Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy 2026.
The five-year association brings together the industrial legacy of Keonjhar with the growing popularity of T20 cricket in Odisha. The company said the partnership will provide an opportunity to support emerging sporting talent and contribute to creating professional pathways for young cricketers from the state.The franchise model, developed by the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), aims to provide a structured platform for competitive domestic T20 cricket in Odisha. Under the arrangement, franchise owners will play an important role in promoting their respective teams and supporting the development of regional cricket talent.
The Keonjhar Miners will be coached by Suryakant Pradhan, assisted by Girija Rout, while Subhranshu Senapati has been named captain. The 16-member squad includes 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 Pattnayak, Kshyama Sagar Bal, Rakesh Biswal and Soyanshu Pattnayak. The franchise proposal also highlights prominent Odisha cricketers, including Swastik Samal, Subhranshu Senapati and Rajesh Mohanty, as well as former India players from the state such as Debasis Mohanty, Shiv Sundar Das, Pragyan Ojha and Sanjay Raul.
Commenting on the association, OCL Iron & Steels Chairman-cum-Managing Director Manish Khemka said the company was delighted to take on the franchise ownership and saw the team as an opportunity to build a strong sporting identity for Keonjhar while supporting emerging talent. The CM Trophy 2026 will feature six teams, with the Keonjhar Miners beginning a new chapter in Odisha’s competitive T20 cricket.