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Welcome to the official website of the Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy. Since 1972, this prestigious tournament has been a symbol of cricket excellence, sportsmanship, and community service. Explore our rich history, legendary guests, notable alumni, and the ongoing journey that continues to inspire generations.
Table Of Contents
Table Of Contents
Welcome To The Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy
Welcome To The Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy
Established in 1972, the Karnewar Trophy is one of India's longest-running and most prestigious grassroots cricket tournaments. Hosted in Nagpur, it has been recognized by three BCCI Presidents and numerous national and international cricketers for its significant contribution to cricket across multiple age groups and formats.
With over five decades of commitment to grassroots cricket, the Karnewar Trophy continues to inspire young talent from across the region.
Objective Of The Karnewar Trophy
Objective Of The Karnewar Trophy
Shri Jagdish Karnewar has been organizing the Karnewar Trophy with the sole objective of enriching cricket and strengthening brotherhood through sports. A life member of the Vidarbha Cricket Association since 1965, he has never pursued power, money, or politics. Instead, he has dedicated his entire life to the development of cricket. His selfless commitment continues to inspire generations and uphold the true spirit of the game.
Today, the Karnewar Trophy is carried forward with the same unwavering principles by his only son, Omkar Jagdish Karnewar, a life member of the Vidarbha Cricket Association since 2006, who remains deeply committed to preserving his father's legacy, values, and the noble purpose for which this tournament was founded.
In the picture: Shri Suhas Phadkar, former Ranji Trophy captain and Vidarbha Gymkhana captain, felicitating Shri Jagdish Karnewar on the occasion of the 50th year of the Karnewar Trophy in 2021
About The Founder
About The Founder
The Late Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy has been organized since 1972 by Shri Jagdish Anandrao Karnewar, Founder President of both the Karnewar Trophy and Vidarbha Gymkhana, in loving memory of his father, Late Dadasaheb alias Anandrao Karnewar. The tournament has been held without interruption for over five decades, celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2021.
Vidarbha Gymkhana, established in 1969 by Shri Jagdish Karnewar, was created to promote cricket in Nagpur and is officially affiliated with Vidarbha Cricket Association. The Karnewar Trophy is organized under the banner of Vidarbha Gymkhana. Under his leadership, it has served as a crucial platform for nurturing cricketing talent across the region.
His journey in community development began much earlier in 1960 with the formation of Navniketan Ganesh Mandal and Navniketan Cricket Club, which laid the foundation for his lifelong mission in sports and culture. (See "Founding Pillars of Navniketan Cricket Club" for details.)
In 2017, he further expanded his mission by founding the Karnewar Cricket Academy, a grassroots development initiative nurturing young cricketers under the Gymkhana's umbrella.
Shri Jagdish Karnewar is widely recognized as a pioneer of inter-school cricket, tennis ball cricket, and Twenty20 tournaments in Nagpur, well before these formats gained mainstream popularity. His unwavering dedication to cricket, youth development, and community service continues to shape the identity and enduring legacy of the Karnewar Trophy today.
Legacy In Frames
Legacy In Frames
Barrister Sheshrao Wankhede was the first Chief Guest of the Karnewar Trophy in 1972
Shri N. K. P. Salve was the Chief Guest of the Karnewar Trophy in 1975 (picture not available)
Advocate V. R. Manohar with Shri Jagdish Karnewar at the inaugural ceremony of the Karnewar Inter-Club Tournament in 1985
Shri Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, legendary Indian cricketer, with Shri Jagdish Karnewar at the inaugural ceremony of the Karnewar Inter-School Under-12 Tournament in 1986
Faiz Yakub Fazal with Omkar Jagdish Karnewar at the annual prize distribution function of the Karnewar Trophy in 1998
Umesh Yadav joined Vidarbha Gymkhana in 2007; prior to that, he had played only with a tennis ball
Shri Jagdish Karnewar felicitating Shri Shashank Manohar at the annual prize distribution function of the Karnewar Trophy in 2013
Vidarbha Gymkhana Legacy
Vidarbha Gymkhana Legacy
This rare photograph from 1980 captures the Vidarbha Gymkhana elite squad, featuring players who went on to become Ranji Trophy captains and Central Zone players. At the center sits Shri Jagdish Karnewar (Manager), flanked by some of the finest talents of that era.
Sitting (R to L): Vikas Shesh, Vikas Gawate, Suhas Phadkar (Captain), Jagdish Karnewar (Manager), Sanjay Potnis, Sunil Hedaoo, Jayanti Rathod.
Standing (R to L): Ram Bambawale, Anil Pendse, Prasad Shetty, Amrut Nerkar, Shirish Joshi.
This photograph remains a treasured part of the Vidarbha Gymkhana legacy.
Founding Pillars Of Navniketan Cricket Club
Founding Pillars Of Navniketan Cricket Club
In 1960, Shri Jagdish Karnewar laid the foundation of Navniketan Ganesh Mandal and Navniketan Cricket Club, igniting a movement that combined cultural unity with sporting excellence. Featured here with Captain Anna Karnewar in 1975, this historic moment reflects the early vision and commitment that shaped the rich legacy of Karnewar cricket history and continues to inspire generations of cricketers in Vidarbha.
Unspoken Recognition
Unspoken Recognition
In 1994, Ramakant Achrekar, the legendary coach of Sachin Tendulkar, visited Shri Jagdish Karnewar at his residence and personally congratulated him for his tireless contribution to cricket as an organizer.
In 1998, he was felicitated by Shri Devendra Fadnavis, the then Mayor of Nagpur, at an event jointly organized by the Sports Journalists Association of Nagpur and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation for his distinguished contribution to cricket.
In 2001, Bishan Singh Bedi, former Indian captain, also honoured him at a special felicitation ceremony organized by the Lokmat Group.
Despite such acknowledgments from cricketing legends and institutions, Shri Jagdish Karnewar never sought recognition, awards, or publicity. His only aim was to serve the game.
Today, it is difficult to find a single cricketer who has not played in the Karnewar Trophy -- a true testament to the scale and legacy of his contribution.
In the picture: Shri Jagdish Karnewar with his wife, Smt Kavita Karnewar
Tournaments Under The Karnewar Legacy
Tournaments Under The Karnewar Legacy
Over the past five decades, a series of prestigious tournaments has been organized under the Karnewar Trophy banner. These events span multiple formats and age groups, and have collectively witnessed the participation of more than 160,000 cricketers.
From pioneering inter-school cricket to introducing T20 formats and grassroots development leagues, the Karnewar legacy continues to play a vital role in shaping cricket across Nagpur and the Vidarbha region.
In the picture: Shri Arun Ogiral, former Vidarbha and Indian cricketer, at the inaugural ceremony of the Karnewar Inter-School Under-10 Tournament in 1996
Age Groups and Formats Covered:
• Inter-School Cricket: Leather Ball Under-9 to Under-16
• Inter-College Cricket: Leather Ball Junior U-17, U-19, and Senior College
• Tennis Ball Cricket: Girls Inter-School and Open Inter-Club
• Special Categories Cricket: All India Disabled and All India Blind
Notable Karnewar Trophy Alumni In Indian Cricket
Notable Karnewar Trophy Alumni In Indian Cricket
• Arun Ogiral (Tennis Ball Inter-Club, Modi No.1 Cricket Club)
• Ashok Bhagwat (Tennis Ball Inter-Club, Janta Cricket Club)
• Vijay Telang (Tennis Ball Inter-Club, Modi No.1 Cricket Club)
• Suhas Phadkar (Tennis Ball Inter-Club, Navniketan Cricket Club)
• Shashank Manohar (Tennis Ball Inter-Club, Janta Cricket Club)
• Hemant Wasu (Inter-College, Institute of Science)
• Vikas Gawate (Tennis Ball Inter-Club, Shankar Nagar Cricket Club)
• Sunil Manohar (Inter-College, University College of Law)
• Usman Ghani (Inter-College, DNC College)
• Praveen Hingnikar (Inter-College, G. S. College)
• Samir Gujar (Inter-College, DNC College)
• Prashant Vaidya (Inter-College, University College of Law)
• Pritam Gandhe (Inter-College, DNC College)
• Manish Dosi (Inter-School, SFS School)
• Amit Deshpande (Inter-School, Shri Rajendra High School)
• Alind Naidu (Inter-School, Paranjape High School)
• Faiz Fazal (Inter-School, Saraswati Vidyalaya)
• Shalabh Shrivastava (Inter-School, Bishop Cotton School)
• Priyanka Acharya (Girls Inter-School, St. Joseph's Convent)
• Akshay Wadkar (Inter-School, Saraswati Vidyalaya)
• Yash Thakur (Inter-School, Tip Top Convent)
• Yash Rathod (Inter-School, Shri Rajendra High School)
Download The Official Karnewar Trophy Live Cricket App
Download The Official Karnewar Trophy Live Cricket App
Evolution Of The Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy
Evolution Of The Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy
Spanning over five decades, the Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy has grown from a local cricket initiative into a prestigious and digitally advanced tournament. Each milestone reflects the tournament's commitment to nurturing talent and adapting with time.
Organized solely by Vidarbha Gymkhana under the leadership of Shri Jagdish Karnewar, this tournament has been a constant pillar of grassroots cricket, evolving through generations while staying true to its founding vision.
Timeline of Key Milestones
• 1972 - Inception of the Tournament with Tennis Ball Inter-Club Cricket
• 1980 - Tennis Ball Inter-School Under-16 Category introduced to encourage school-level participation
• 1984 - Transition to Leather Ball Inter-School Under-16 Tournament for a more competitive structure
• 1985 - Started the Under-14 Leather Ball Inter-School Tournament to promote school-level cricket
• 1985 - Launch of Leather Ball Inter-College Junior and Senior College format
• 1986 - Leather Ball Inter-School Under-12 Tournament introduced to support younger players
• 1987 - Disabled Cricket Tournament introduced specifically for players with physical disabilities in Nagpur
• 1990 - First-ever Tennis Ball Inter-School Girls Tournament, promoting gender inclusion
• 1992 - Blind Cricket Tournament conducted for the visually impaired
• 1996 - Leather Ball Inter-School Under-10 Tournament added, strengthening grassroots outreach
• 1997 - Introduced the Under-11 Inter-School Tournament to encourage younger players
• 1998 - Launched the Under-13 Inter-School Tournament to support age-wise player growth
• 2004 - Leather Ball Inter-School Under-9 Tournament launched, setting new standards for early-age cricket
• 2022 - As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations (marking 50 years in 2021), fully customized white-label mobile apps for Android and iOS were launched, developed by CricHeroes
• 2025 - The official website of the Karnewar Trophy and Vidarbha Gymkhana goes live, preserving history and enabling digital access for future generations
From its humble beginnings to a modern digital platform, the Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy continues to inspire, evolve, and strengthen its enduring legacy in Indian cricket.
Legacy Of Integrity
Legacy Of Integrity
For over five decades, the Dadasaheb Karnewar Trophy has stood for one uncompromising principle: fair play above all else. This commitment was tested through some of the toughest decisions in the tournament's history.
Founder Jagdish Karnewar, who created both Navniketan Cricket Club and Vidarbha Gymkhana, never allowed personal ties to override the rules. In 1976 he debarred Navniketan Cricket Club, and in 1978 he took the same strict action against Vidarbha Gymkhana. Years later, his son Omkar Karnewar upheld the same standard by debarring Vidarbha Gymkhana in 2002.
These decisions define the true strength of this tournament: No compromises. No favoritism. Only pure cricket.
In the picture: SJAN Award, 1998
Karnewar Trophy: Recognized Names Since 1972
Karnewar Trophy: Recognized Names Since 1972
For over five decades, the Karnewar Trophy has proudly stood as a symbol of sporting excellence and community legacy. Throughout the years, this historic tournament has been officially known by several names, including:
• Karnewar Cricket
• Karnewar Cricket Trophy
• Dadasaheb Karnewar Cricket Trophy
• Karnewar Tournament
• Karnewar Cricket Tournament
• Dadasaheb Karnewar Cricket Tournament
• Karnewar Inter-School Cricket
• Karnewar Inter-College Cricket
• Karnewar School Cricket
• Karnewar College Cricket
• Karnewar Tennis Ball Cricket
• Karnewar Girls Cricket
• Yashodadevi Karnewar Memorial Inter-School Girls Cricket
• Yashodabai Karnewar Memorial Inter-School Girls Cricket
• Yashodadevi Karnewar Memorial Inter Zonal Disable Cricket Tournament
• Karnewar Leather Ball Inter-School Cricket
• Karnewar Leather Ball Inter-College Cricket
• Karnewar Tennis Ball Inter-Club Cricket
• Dadasaheb Karnewar Memorial Inter-School Cricket Tournament
• Dadasaheb Karnewar Memorial Inter-College Cricket Tournament
• Dadasaheb Karnewar Memorial Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament
All of these names are part of the same official legacy and represent different categories or formats under the umbrella of the Karnewar Trophy, organized solely by Vidarbha Gymkhana.
This is the only official website of the Karnewar Trophy, Vidarbha Gymkhana, and all of their recognized formats. It is the sole official digital presence of both the Karnewar Trophy and Vidarbha Gymkhana. This platform was created based on the vision and lifelong efforts of its sole founder and Founder President, Shri Jagdish Anandrao Karnewar.
Any unauthorized use of the Karnewar name or Vidarbha Gymkhana, or any of their variations, is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.
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