T20 Mumbai League auction: Parkar fetches ₹12 lakh as franchises chase emerging talent
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Saturday, 2 May, concluded the men's player auction for the fourth season of the T20 Mumbai League, with all-rounder Aakash Parkar commanding the highest bid at ₹12 lakh to SoBo Mumbai Falcons. The auction underscored franchises' aggressive pursuit of a blend of established international performers and Mumbai's emerging talent pool.
Top acquisitions and bidding intensity
Beyond Parkar, three other players dominated the bidding wars. Wicketkeeper-batsman Prasad Pawar was secured by Arcs Andheri for ₹11.50 lakh, while versatile batter Musheer Khan went to the same franchise for ₹11 lakh. All-rounder Arjun Tendulkar joined Arcs Andheri for ₹10 lakh, rounding out the marquee signings of the day.
Icon Players lead franchises
The league's eight franchises will be led by a roster of Indian internationals and Mumbai stalwarts. Suryakumar Yadav captains Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, while Shreyas Iyer leads SoBo Mumbai Falcons. Ajinkya Rahane heads North Mumbai Panthers, Shivam Dube leads Arcs Andheri, Yashasvi Jaiswal captains Bandra Blasters, Shardul Thakur commands Eagle Thane Strikers, Sarfaraz Khan leads Aakash Tigers, and Tushar Deshpande captains MSC Maratha Royals.
Retained core bolsters competitiveness
Franchises retained select players to maintain championship cores. Triumph Knights retained young sensations Ayush Mhatre and Suryansh Shedge, signalling confidence in their development trajectory. Other retained players across franchises included Shams Mulani and Jay Bista at Aakash Tigers, Pragnesh Kanpillewar and Deepak Shetty at Arcs Andheri, and Suved Parkar and Dhrumil Matkar at Bandra Blasters.
MCA and league officials on the auction
Ajinkya Naik, President of the MCA, said:
Point of View
Coupled with aggressive spending on emerging stars, suggests the league is becoming a genuine launchpad for future India squad members, not merely a cash-grab exhibition.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the highest-priced buy at the T20 Mumbai League Season 4 auction?
All-rounder Aakash Parkar was the top acquisition, fetched by SoBo Mumbai Falcons for ₹12 lakh. He was followed by wicketkeeper-batsman Prasad Pawar (₹11.50 lakh) and versatile batter Musheer Khan (₹11 lakh), both secured by Arcs Andheri.
Which players were retained by franchises ahead of the auction?
Triumph Knights retained Ayush Mhatre and Suryansh Shedge. Aakash Tigers retained Shams Mulani and Jay Bista. Other franchises also retained select core players to maintain competitive squads.
Who are the Icon Players for Season 4?
The eight Icon Players are Suryakumar Yadav (Triumph Knights), Shreyas Iyer (SoBo Mumbai Falcons), Ajinkya Rahane (North Mumbai Panthers), Shivam Dube (Arcs Andheri), Yashasvi Jaiswal (Bandra Blasters), Shardul Thakur (Eagle Thane Strikers), Sarfaraz Khan (Aakash Tigers), and Tushar Deshpande (MSC Maratha Royals).
When will the T20 Mumbai League Season 4 tournament begin?
The tournament is set to commence in June 2026, with specific match dates and venues to be announced by the League Governing Council in due course.
What happened at the Women's League auction?
The inaugural T20 Mumbai Women's League auction was held on the same day, with teenage sensation Ira Jadhav becoming the standout acquisition, secured by Aakash Tigers for ₹10 lakh.
