Bengal T20 League auction: Mita Paul tops women's picks at ₹3 lakh, 250+ players signed
Synopsis
Bengal T20 League's record auction saw ₹4.5 crore deployed across men's and women's franchises, with 250+ players signed from a 1,000-strong pool. Mita Paul topped women's valuations at ₹3 lakh, while IPL all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed led men's signings at ₹12.20 lakh. The league's aggressive investment in U15 and U19 talent signals a long-term grassroots play.
Key Takeaways
Bengal T20 League auction saw franchises spend over ₹4.5 crore across men's and women's teams.
Mita Paul emerged as highest women's pick at ₹3 lakh , retained by Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers .
Shahbaz Ahmed (IPL all-rounder) commanded men's auction at ₹12.20 lakh for Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers .
More than 250 players secured contracts from an auction pool exceeding 1,000 cricketers .
128 women players and 136 men players signed; every squad includes mandatory youth quotas ( U15 and U19 ).
Ariktha Manna , 13 years old , became standout U15 talent at ₹1.55 lakh .
Kolkata, 11 May 2026 — The Bengal T20 League concluded its largest player auction in history on Saturday, with franchises investing over ₹4.5 crore across men's and women's squads. More than 250 cricketers secured contracts from an auction pool exceeding 1,000 players ahead of the 2026 season.
Mita Paul emerged as the highest-valued women's player at ₹3 lakh, retained by Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers through the Right to Match (RTM) clause. The auction saw 128 women players and 136 men players signed across six franchises, with every men's squad reaching 17 players (including at least two U19 prospects) and every women's team assembling 16 players (with at least two U15 talents).
Men's auction highlights
Shahbaz Ahmed, the IPL all-rounder, commanded the highest men's price at ₹12.20 lakh after Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers invoked RTM. Multiple domestic stars crossed the ₹8 lakh threshold, including Abishek Porel (₹10.40 lakh), Mukesh Kumar (₹9.60 lakh), and Sudip Kumar Gharami (₹9.40 lakh). Youth signings also drew aggressive bidding, with Ravi Kumar becoming the costliest U19 player at ₹7.80 lakh and Rohit the top U16 prospect at ₹5.20 lakh.
Women's auction: depth and investment
The women's auction reflected growing competitive depth in Bengal women's cricket. More than 10 players crossed ₹2 lakh, with all A+ category players successfully retained. Dhara Gujjar fetched ₹2.85 lakh, while Tanushree Sarkar, Priyanka Bala, and Prativa Rana each exceeded ₹2.10 lakh. Franchises collectively spent ₹88 lakh on women's signings alone.
Emerging talent and grassroots focus
The auction underscored the league's commitment to youth development. Ariktha Manna, just 13 years old, emerged as the standout U15 talent, signed by Rashmi Medinipur Wizards for ₹1.55 lakh (base price ₹30,000). Seven other U15 players were also picked, signalling sustained investment in long-term pipeline building.
League's vision and next steps
Bablu Kolay, Honorary Secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal, said the auction reflected growing enthusiasm around the league's dual mandate:
Point of View
Particularly Ariktha Manna at ₹1.55 lakh despite a ₹30,000 base, shows franchises are thinking pipeline, not just immediate performance. This is how state leagues build depth.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the highest-valued player in the Bengal T20 League auction?
Shahbaz Ahmed, the IPL all-rounder, was the highest-valued player at ₹12.20 lakh, retained by Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers through RTM. In the women's auction, Mita Paul topped valuations at ₹3 lakh.
How many players were signed in the Bengal T20 League auction?
More than 250 players secured contracts from an auction pool exceeding 1,000 cricketers. The men's auction produced 136 signings and the women's auction 128 signings.
What is the mandatory youth quota in Bengal T20 League squads?
Every men's squad must include at least two U19 players, while every women's team must feature at least two U15 players, strengthening the league's grassroots development focus.
Who was the standout U15 talent in the women's auction?
Ariktha Manna, aged 13, emerged as the standout U15 prospect, signed by Rashmi Medinipur Wizards for ₹1.55 lakh despite a base price of ₹30,000.
How much did franchises spend on the women's auction alone?
Franchises collectively spent ₹88 lakh in the women's auction, with more than 10 players crossing the ₹2 lakh mark and all A+ category players successfully retained.
