MSC Maratha Royals is a forward-looking cricket franchise founded on a long-term vision of nurturing talent and implementing professional management practices. Backed by the entrepreneurial strength of Kapil Sons Group, the Baheti family brings a blend of business acumen and modern sports management to the franchise.
Kapil Baheti leads the strategic direction and operational execution of the team, while Alisha Baheti plays a pivotal role in fostering the franchise’s culture, strengthening community engagement, and advancing its grassroots development initiatives
Kapil Baheti & Alisha Baheti, Team Owners, Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals, speak with MI about the competition and government support in the segment.
Let’s read:
Q) How do you see the regional cricket sport evolving over the years?
Regional cricket in India is going through its most transformational phase yet. There’s growing professionalism around regional cricket as seen with better infrastructure, coaching, stronger fan engagement and commercial interest. Today, it’s also a strong ecosystem for discovering and nurturing talent, giving players from different backgrounds a genuine pathway to better opportunities. For a city like Mumbai, with such a rich cricketing legacy, leagues like the T20 Mumbai League also help strengthen the emotional connect between fans and homegrown players. This ecosystem will continue to evolve and become a vital part of India’s cricketing future.
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Q) What does it take to build a winning cricket franchise today?
Building a winning franchise goes beyond assembling talented players. It requires the right culture, strong leadership, strategic planning, player development, and creating an environment where athletes can perform with confidence. Most importantly, it requires consistency from all sides.
Q) What kind of government support does regional sport/ cricket get in India?
Regional cricket in India has definitely seen stronger support over the years, especially through better infrastructure, academies, and grassroots programs backed by state associations and local bodies. Organisations like the BCCI and state cricket associations have also played a vital role in creating opportunities for young talent through domestic tournaments and regional leagues. At the same time, there’s still a lot more potential to grow the ecosystem further, especially at the grassroots and community level and to bridge gaps by giving local talent a big platform and bringing fans closer to the game.
Q) Why is the Indian audience convinced of sports in today’s era, specifically cricket?
For decades, Indians’ shared love for the game has brought them together socially and emotionally across generations and geographies. It’s a part of our identity as Indians and is deeply rooted in our culture.
In the last couple of years, with formats like the IPL and T20, the sport has become faster-paced and more engaging for younger audiences than ever before. Additionally, digital accessibility and franchise-based leagues have made fans from every corner of the country feel far more connected to players, teams, and even local talent coming through the system. Cricket is not just a sport in India; it’s an experience and an emotional connection.
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Q) How do you cope with competition in modern sports?
Competition is inevitable and welcomed. We focus on continuous improvement, strong team management, fan engagement, and creating a unique identity for our franchise.
We’re also fortunate to have a strong mix of talent: Players like Siddhessh Lad and Tushar Deshpande bring valuable experience and expertise; Chinmay Sutar and Maxwell Swaminathan add energy and fearlessness; players like Rohan Raje and Aditya Dhumal have been consistent performers. We have a strong squad overall. Staying adaptable and keeping their growth and performance at the forefront helps us remain competitive.
Q) Future vision for Marata Royals
Our vision for Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals is to build a franchise that goes just beyond results on the field. We want to build a team that identifies, nurtures and supports the next generation of homegrown cricketing talent from the city. For us, this is a long-term sports IP, not a seasonal team. Over time, we hope Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals becomes synonymous with fearless cricket, strong community connections, and a deep sense of regional pride.
