2026

According to Warangal West MLA Naini Rajender Reddy, the government is focusing on sports infrastructure and athlete development. The statement was made during the Telangana Under-20 Athletics Championship at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Hanamkonda. Warangal is rapidly transforming into Telangana’s next major sports hub, driven by massive local political backing, newly approved international-grade infrastructure, and the launch of its first professional sports franchise. The state government and district officials have finalized a blueprint to reposition the historic tri-cities (Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Kazipet) as the primary alternative to Hyderabad for athletic excellence.

The inaugural Telangana Junior Basketball League starts on June 19 with around 3,000 young athletes participating across Telangana. The league aims to identify and develop emerging basketball talent in the state. The inaugural edition of the Telangana Junior Basketball League (TJBL) is officially launching today, June 19, 2026, with games kicking off at 6:00 p.m. at the Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Indoor Stadium in Yousufguda, Hyderabad. Organised by the Telangana Basketball Association (TBA), this tournament represents India’s first-ever professional franchise-backed basketball league exclusively dedicated to youth talent.

The Telangana franchise-based TG20 League 2026 begins on June 20 and runs until July 11 in Hyderabad. Warangal Warriors are among the eight founding teams participating in the tournament. The inaugural TG20 Cricket League will actually begin on June 21, 2026, rather than June 20. Organised by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), this highly anticipated premier T20 tournament will run until July 12, 2026.Key Tournament DetailsVenue: All 32 matches will take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad.Format: 8 franchise teams playing 32 matches over 21 days in an IPL-style competitive structure.Opening Match: The tournament kicks off on June 21 at 7:15 PM with a clash between the Palamuru Strikers and Anvita Khammam Aces.Prize Pool: The winning team will take home a grand prize of ₹1 Crore.Star Presence: Film star Vijay Deverakonda serves as the official brand ambassador, and notable Team India players like Mohammed Siraj and Tilak Varma are set to participate.Broadcast: Matches will be broadcast live across the JioStar network.

Warangal’s first professional sports franchise, the Warangal Warriors, officially unveiled its vision and grassroots sports development program. The team has joined the inaugural TG20 League and signed Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj as its marquee player. The Warangal Warriors have officially entered professional cricket as one of the eight founding franchise teams in the Hyderabad Cricket Association’s inaugural TG20 Cricket League. Representing the city of Warangal, this marks the city’s first-ever professional sports franchise. The team is backed by M/s Bain Global Resources Pvt. Ltd. and co-owned by Varun Jupally, Phani Chitneni, and Dheeraj Induru.