The T20 Mumbai League auction on Saturday delivered a mix of emerging promise and familiar names, with both the men’s and women’s competitions shaping up ahead of their return next month. Among the notable buys, Arjun Tendulkar was picked up by Arcs Andheri for Rs 10 lakh, five times his base price, while 16-year-old prospect Ira Jadhav secured an identical deal with Aakash Tigers in the women’s draft.
The women’s auction, held for the league’s inaugural edition, preceded the men’s event and saw three franchises—Sobo Mumbai Falcons, Thane Sky Risers, and Aakash Tigers—collectively spend Rs 1.47 crore to assemble 50-player squads. Among the key signings, India U-19 vice-captain Sanika Chalke joined Aakash Tigers for Rs 5.50 lakh, while Women’s
Premier League player Simran Shaikh was acquired by Falcons for Rs 7 lakh.
In the men’s auction later in the day, all-rounder Akash Parkar emerged as one of the top buys, heading to Falcons for Rs 12 lakh. Arcs Andheri strengthened their lineup further by signing wicketkeeper-batter Prasad Pawar for Rs 11.50 lakh and young talent Musheer Khan for Rs 11 lakh.
Arjun, son of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, was eligible for the auction despite switching allegiances to Goa in domestic cricketafter receiving clearance from the BCCI. He has not featured in any state T20 league over the past year.
Several established Indian players had already been retained as Icon players by their respective teams. These include Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane, along with Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan, and Tushar Deshpande. Youngsters Ayush Mhatre and Suryansh Shedge were also retained earlier.
Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik highlighted the competitive nature of the auction, noting the strong talent pool and growing confidence among franchises. League governing council chairman Rajdip Gupta echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the balance teams achieved between experienced players and rising stars, setting the stage for a high-quality season.
