Twenty-seven sorghum hybrids developed in a line x tester mating design involving milo and maldanadi male sterile lines viz., M31-2A (maldandi), 104A, and 116A (milo) and nine fertility restorers representing wide variability were evaluated in northern dry zone of Karnataka i.e, Bijapur. The milo (104A and 116A) hybrids showed early flowering, increased panicle length, number of primaries per panicle and number of grains per panicle in comparison with maldandi (M31-2A) hybrids. The maldandi (M31-2A) hybrids revealed moderate height, increased number of leaves, more seed weight and higher grain yield compared to the milo (104A and 116A) hybrids. Restorers SPV 1090, CR 9, Barsi prakash and IUS 177 recorded desirable general combining ability effects. M31-2A x SPV 1090, M31-2A x CR 9 among the maldandi hybrids and 104A x Barsi prakash, 104A x IUS 177 and 116A x Honnutagi local among the milo hybrids recorded higher per se grain yield with positive heterosis and specific combining ability effects. Results emphasized the importance of maldandi cytoplasm and also the utility of local cultivars in development of commercial hybrids.