Team Jaipur sustains dominant domestic polo form amid unverified BM Birla Cup reports

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Polo Team, spearheaded by Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, has maintained a dominant run in recent domestic tournaments, highlighted by their victory in the Sawai Man Guard Cup. While a feed report claims Team Jaipur defeated Team Mayfair Polo 7-5 in the BM Birla Cup, specific details of this match are not confirmed in available official records, though the teams have previously engaged in closely contested fixtures.

The team's most recent verified triumph occurred in October 2026 at the Rajasthan Polo Club Ground, where they secured the Sawai Man Guard Cup title. As reported by The Times of India, Team Jaipur defeated Team Sternhagen 9-7 in the final of the 8-goal tournament. Maharaja Padmanabh Singh led the scoring with five goals, while Martin Carlos Donovan contributed four, with strong support from Vishwaraj Singh and Kuldeep Singh Rathore. Following the match, a bust of the late Brigadier Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh was unveiled by Padmanabh Singh at the club to honour his memory.

The mention of Team Mayfair Polo in recent headlines echoes their notable semi-final encounter at the Mysore Cup in December 2025. In that tournament, Team Jaipur, which included both Maharaja Padmanabh Singh and Dino Dhankhar, defeated Mayfair Polo 9-7. During this semi-final, Lance Watson's captaincy and Dhankhar's midfield play were crucial in utilising the Maharaja's abilities to secure the victory over Mayfair Polo. Dhankhar’s versatility on the field was further evident as he also scored for Team Sternhagen in the October 2026 Sawai Man Guard Cup final and for Kanota Polo during the Kashmir Challenge Cup in November 2025 [2, 5].

From an analytical perspective, the frequent appearances of top-tier players like Dhankhar across different team jerseys underscore the fluid and highly competitive structure of India's professional polo circuit. Meanwhile, Maharaja Padmanabh Singh’s consistent on-field leadership and scoring prowess—evident from his five-goal performance in October 2026 to his active play in the 2025 Kashmir Challenge Cup, where Jaipur defeated Kanota Polo 9-5—remain central to Team Jaipur's strategic success [2, 5]. In the Kashmir match, South African ace Lance Watson scored five goals and the Maharaja added two to seal the tournament victory.

Looking ahead, the Jaipur Polo Team's upcoming schedule includes high-profile exhibition matches, such as the USPA Mayo Polo Cup, which will further test their form under floodlights. The team's ability to integrate royal leadership with professional expertise continues to make them a formidable force in Indian polo, setting a high benchmark for future domestic competitions.