TG20 auction: Tilak Varma tops at ₹33 lakh, Siraj, Sahani among key buys
Synopsis
Tilak Varma became the costliest player at the inaugural TG20 auction, fetching ₹33 lakh for Medak Falcons — underscoring the league's ambition to anchor Telangana's T20 circuit on genuine international pedigree. With over 1,300 cricketers in the pool and 8 franchises competing across three categories, TG20 is shaping up as the most structured state-level T20 league in south India.
Key Takeaways
Tilak Varma was the auction's top buy at ₹33 lakh , secured by Medak Falcons in the Icon category.
Mohammed Siraj was picked by Warangal Warriors for ₹14 lakh ; uncapped CV Milind fetched ₹17 lakh — the highest for an uncapped player.
Arfaz Ahmed and Abhirath Reddy were joint-highest buys in the A category at ₹11 lakh each.
The auction was held on 7 June at Princess Convention Centre, Ramoji Film City , with over 1,300 HCA-registered cricketers in the pool.
The inaugural TG20 season begins on 21 June at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal , featuring 8 franchises across 32 matches .
The inaugural TG20 Player Auction got underway on 7 June at the Princess Convention Centre, Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, with a pool of over 1,300 HCA-registered cricketers up for grabs. Franchises assembled their squads across the Icon, A+, and A categories, snapping up international stars, seasoned domestic performers, and district-level prospects in a wide-ranging bidding contest.
Icon Category Highlights
India batter Tilak Varma emerged as the auction's highest-valued player, secured by Medak Falcons for ₹33 lakh. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was picked up by Warangal Warriors for ₹14 lakh, while uncapped player CV Milind became the most expensive uncapped cricketer of the day, with Anvita Khammam Aces paying ₹17 lakh to land him.
Other notable Icon category signings included Ravi Kiran (Palamuru Strikers), T. Raviteja (Medak Falcons), Tanay Thyagarajan (Pranava Ranga Reddy Risers), Rahul Buddhi (Anurag Nalgonda Knights), Tanmay Agarwal (Karimnagar Diamonds), and Rohit Rayudu (Palamuru Strikers).
A+ Category Acquisitions
Franchises reinforced their core squads through the A+ category, with Aman Rao heading to Warangal Warriors, Pragnay Reddy to Palamuru Strikers, and Ajay Dev Goud to Hyderabad e-Champions. Nitin Sai Yadav, Aaron George, and Rakshann Readdi were among the other marquee picks in this tier.
A Category: Emerging Talent in Demand
Arfaz Ahmed and Abhirath Reddy became the joint-highest buys in the A category, each fetching ₹11 lakh. Chandan Sahani was acquired by Karimnagar Diamonds, while Pranav Varma joined Hyderabad e-Champions and Hima Teja was picked up by Anvita Khammam Aces — reflecting strong franchisee appetite for emerging district-level talent.
Auction Conduct and League Outlook
Renowned sports presenter and auctioneer Charu Sharma presided over the proceedings, with franchise owners, team representatives, and league officials in attendance. The auction reflects TG20's stated vision of building a world-class platform for Telangana cricket talent.
The inaugural edition of TG20 is scheduled to commence on 21 June at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, with 8 franchises set to compete across 32 matches over 21 days.
Point of View
But the real test is whether the league can sustain that investment with broadcast reach and ground attendance. Tilak Varma's ₹33 lakh price tag is a statement of ambition; CV Milind's ₹17 lakh as an uncapped player suggests franchises are also scouting deep into the domestic pipeline — which is precisely what a state league should be doing. Whether TG20 becomes a genuine talent feeder for IPL and national selection, or remains a marquee local event, will depend on how rigorously it is structured over the next two or three seasons.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the highest-paid player at the TG20 auction?
India batter Tilak Varma was the highest-valued player at the inaugural TG20 auction, bought by Medak Falcons for ₹33 lakh in the Icon category. He was followed by uncapped player CV Milind, who fetched ₹17 lakh — the highest price for an uncapped cricketer.
Which franchise bought Mohammed Siraj at the TG20 auction?
Mohammed Siraj was picked up by Warangal Warriors for ₹14 lakh in the Icon category during the TG20 Player Auction held on 7 June at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
Who were the top buys in the TG20 A category?
Arfaz Ahmed and Abhirath Reddy were the joint-highest buys in the A category, each secured for ₹11 lakh. Chandan Sahani (Karimnagar Diamonds), Pranav Varma (Hyderabad e-Champions), and Hima Teja (Anvita Khammam Aces) were other prominent A category signings.
When and where does the TG20 season begin?
The inaugural TG20 season is scheduled to begin on 21 June at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. Eight franchises will compete across 32 matches over 21 days.
What is TG20 and how many players were in the auction pool?
TG20 is a franchise-based T20 cricket league for Telangana, designed to provide a competitive platform for HCA-registered cricketers. The inaugural player auction featured a pool of over 1,300 registered cricketers across the Icon, A+, and A categories.
