The Bengal T20 League officially ushered in its franchise-auction era on Saturday, with teams spending aggressively on proven domestic performers, IPL-recognised names and emerging young talent ahead of the 2026 season.
India all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed emerged as the biggest buy of the auction after Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers used their Right To Match card to retain him for ₹12.20 lakh, making him the most expensive player in Bengal T20 League history so far.
The auction, held in Kolkata, featured eight franchises competing with a combined purse of ₹4.08 crore as the tournament continues positioning itself as one of India's fastest-growing domestic franchise competitions.
Shahbaz Ahmed becomes Bengal T20 League's first marquee auction name
Shahbaz topping the auction reflected the increasing value of versatile Indian
all-rounders in modern T20 cricket.
The experienced left-arm spinner and middle-order batter has built a strong reputation through the IPL and domestic cricket, and the Rarh Tigers clearly viewed him as central to their plans moving forward.
Only wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel came close to matching Shahbaz's valuation.
Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers spent ₹10.40 lakh on the aggressive young batter, underlining how highly franchises value attacking wicketkeeper-batters capable of impacting games quickly.
India pacer Mukesh Kumar completed the top three after Sobisco Smashers Malda retained him for ₹9.60 lakh.
Top 10 most expensive players at Bengal T20 League 2026 auction
1. Shahbaz Ahmed (Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers) - ₹12.20 lakh
2. Abishek Porel (Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers) - ₹10.40 lakh
3. Mukesh Kumar (Sobisco Smashers Malda) - ₹9.60 lakh
4. Sudip Kumar Gharami (Novus Purulia Royals) - ₹9.40 lakh
5. Yuvraj Deepak Keswani (Novus Purulia Royals) - ₹8.60 lakh
6. Saksham Chaudhary (Murshidabad Kings) - ₹8.40 lakh
7. Writtick Chatterjee (Adamas Howrah Warriors) - ₹8.20 lakh
8. Karan Lal (Servotech Siliguri Strikers) - ₹8 lakh
9. Abhimanyu Easwaran (Sobisco Smashers Malda) - ₹8 lakh
10. Ravi Kumar (Novus Purulia Royals) - ₹7.80 lakh
Mukesh Kumar, Easwaran and Gharami among major domestic stars
Several established Bengal domestic names attracted strong bids throughout the auction.
Mukesh Kumar's valuation reflected his rise across Indian cricket over the last few seasons, particularly after becoming a regular across formats for Bengal and earning national attention through the IPL.
Sudip Kumar Gharami also commanded major interest because of his consistency in domestic white-ball cricket, while Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran added experience and leadership value despite being more recognised for red-ball cricket.
Veteran all-rounders like Writtick Chatterjee and Karan Lal also remained highly sought-after because of their proven domestic T20 records.
Novus Purulia Royals emerge as aggressive new franchise
One of the biggest stories from the auction was the aggressive approach taken by debut franchise Novus Purulia Royals.
The team secured three players inside the top 10 most expensive signings - Sudip Kumar Gharami, Yuvraj Deepak Keswani and Ravi Kumar - signalling immediate ambition ahead of their first season in the competition.
Their spending strategy suggested a clear focus on building a strong domestic core rather than relying solely on one marquee player.
League pushes youth development alongside star power
While the top names dominated headlines, the Bengal T20 League also continued emphasising youth development.
Players were divided into categories including A+, A, B, U19 and U16, allowing franchises to invest in both established stars and long-term prospects.
One of the standout moments came when 16-year-old Rohit secured a ₹5.20 lakh deal with Novus Purulia Royals after attracting considerable interest during the auction.
That balance between experienced domestic stars and emerging teenage talent appears central to the league's long-term identity.
Sourav Ganguly backs auction format
CAB president Sourav Ganguly praised the introduction of the auction system, stating that it adds a stronger competitive edge to the tournament.
According to Ganguly, giving franchises more control over player recruitment should help improve overall standards while also creating greater visibility for Bengal's domestic talent pool.
With major names now attached to franchises and teams investing aggressively, the Bengal T20 League appears ready to become one of India's more closely watched state-level T20 competitions.
