1000+ cricketers entered the auction pool; Shahbaz Ahmed tops Men’s chart at ₹12.2 lakh, while Mita Paul emerges as the highest Women’s pick at ₹3 lakh at Bengal T20 League first-ever auction for Season 3
Bengal T20 Women’s League , Franchises spend over ₹4.5 Crore across men’s and women’s teams
The Bengal T20 League completed its biggest-ever player auction with franchises spending over ₹4.5 crore across their Men’s and Women’s teams. More than 250 players secured contracts from an auction pool of over 1000 cricketers ahead of the 2026 season. The auctions witnessed intense bidding wars, strategic RTM moves, and strong investments in Bengal’s emerging talent pipeline, including U19 and U15 cricketers.
Across the two auctions, franchises completed 136 player signings in the Men’s and 128 player signings in the Women’s team. Every Men’s franchise assembled a 17-player squad with the mandatory inclusion of at least two U19 players. In comparison, every Women’s team completed a 16-player squad featuring at least two U15 players, strengthening the league’s focus on long-term grassroots development.
The first-ever Men’s Auction in Bengal T20 League history produced several high-value signings, with IPL and India all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed emerging as the most expensive player at ₹12.20 lakh after being retained by Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers through RTM. Multiple players crossed the ₹8 lakh mark as franchises aggressively competed for Bengal’s leading domestic performers, IPL talent, and emerging prospects.
The Women’s Auction also witnessed strong investments across marquee and youth categories, with more than 10 players crossing the ₹2 lakh mark, while all players in the A+ category were successfully picked by franchises (leaving no player unsold in the category). This reflects the growing depth and competitiveness of women’s cricket in Bengal. Mita Paul became the highest-valued player in the Women’s Auction at ₹3 lakh, with Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers retaining her through RTM. while 13-year-old Ariktha Manna emerged as one of the standout young talents at the auction after being picked for ₹1.55 lakh by Rashmi Medinipur Wizards (0.30L base price). Franchises collectively spent nearly ₹88 lakh in the Women’s Auction alone.
Mr Bablu Kolay, Honorary Secretary, Cricket Association of Bengal, said, “The enthusiasm and participation witnessed across both auction days reflect the growing excitement around the Bengal T20 League and the opportunities it continues to create for players across Bengal. The league continues to strengthen its vision of creating a competitive platform for established cricketers while also investing in the next generation of talent across age-group categories.”
Men’s Auction – Top 10 Highest Picks
- Shahbaz Ahmed – ₹12.20 lakh (RTM) – Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers
- Abishek Porel – ₹10.40 lakh – Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
- Mukesh Kumar – ₹9.60 lakh (RTM) – Sobisco Smashers Malda
- Sudip Kumar Gharami – ₹9.40 lakh – Novus Purulia Royals
- Yuvraj Deepak Keswani – ₹8.60 lakh – Novus Purulia Royals
- Saksham Chaudhary – ₹8.40 lakh – Murshidabad Kings
- Writtick Chatterjee – ₹8.20 lakh – Adamas Howrah Warriors
- Ravi Kumar (U19) – ₹7.80 lakh – Novus Purulia Royals
- Rohit (U16) – ₹5.20 lakh – Novus Purulia Royals
- Subham Sarkar – ₹4.8 lakh – Rashmi Medinipur Wizards
The Men’s Auction also saw strong demand for youth categories, with Ravi Kumar becoming the highest-paid U19 player at ₹7.80 lakh, while Rohit emerged as the top U16 signing at ₹5.20 lakh.
Women’s Auction – Top 10 Highest Picks
- Mita Paul – ₹3 lakh (RTM) – Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
- Dhara Gujjar – ₹2.85 lakh – Novus Purulia Royals
- Tanushree Sarkar – ₹2.35 lakh (RTM) – Murshidabad Kueens
- Priyanka Bala – ₹2.25 lakh (RTM) – Servotech Siliguri Strikers
- Prativa Rana – ₹2.15 lakh (RTM) – Murshidabad Kueens
- Hrishita Basu – ₹2.10 lakh – Rashmi Medinipur Wizards
- Piyali Ghosh – ₹2.10 lakh (RTM) – Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers
- Sujata Dey – ₹2.05 lakh – Adamas Howrah Warriors
- Prativa Mandi (U19) – ₹2.05 lakh – Sobisco Smashers Malda
- Trishita Sarkar – ₹2.05 lakh – Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
Biggest U15 & Emerging Talent Picks
- Ariktha Manna (13 years, U15) – ₹1.55 lakh – Rashmi Medinipur Wizards
- Debasmita Khalsa (14 years, U15) – ₹0.65 lakh – Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
- Manushri Rajak (14 years, U15) – ₹0.50 lakh – Rashmi Medinipur Wizards
- Sneha Mahato (14 years, U15) – ₹0.48 lakh – Servotech Siliguri Strikers
- Saikh Athiana (14 years, U15) – ₹0.40 lakh – Sobisco Smashers Malda
- Tanisha Das (14 years, U15) – ₹0.34 lakh – Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
- Protistha Dutta (14 years, U15) – ₹0.32 lakh – Adamas Howrah Warriors
- Piyali Roy (13 years, U15) – ₹0.30 lakh – Novus Purulia Royals
The auctions also marked the continued expansion of the Bengal T20 League ecosystem, with Novus Purulia Royals joining Adamas Howrah Warriors, Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers, Murshidabad Kueens, Rashmi Medinipur Wizards, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers, and Sobisco Smashers Malda for the upcoming season. Franchise owners, coaches, and team representatives expressed confidence in the squads assembled and the growing impact of the league on cricket development across Bengal.
Team Owner Quotes
Anshuman Ghosh, Owner, NOVUS Purulia Royals, said, “After watching the first two seasons, we genuinely felt we were missing out on being part of something special. Joining the Bengal T20 League gives us an opportunity to contribute towards developing players from Bengal and helping them progress to higher levels of the game.”
Yash Jain, Owner, Murshidabad Kings and Kueens, said, “Over the last two seasons, our approach has always been to back our players and support staff with complete confidence, and this year will be no different. We want to create an environment with less pressure and more freedom so that the team can perform at its best and hopefully go one step further this season. The auction has brought every franchise onto a level playing field and has added a fresh dynamic to team building. It gives franchises the opportunity to create balanced squads while also ensuring that players receive the value and recognition they deserve.”
Anil Agarwal, Co-Owner, Sobisco Smashers Malda, said, “We are determined to bounce back strongly this season. The Bengal T20 League has been an incredible experience for us as a franchise over the last two years, and we are confident of putting together a much stronger campaign this time around.”
Moinak Sengupta, Head Coach, Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers, said, “We have consistently reached the playoffs over the last two seasons, but our objective this year is very simple: we want to win the league. At the same time, we are looking to build a squad not just for one season, but for long-term success over the coming years.”
Rishabh Bhatia, Owner, Servotech Siliguri Strikers, said, “We entered this league because of our passion for cricket and our desire to contribute towards the growth of the sport in Bengal. The talent pool here is exceptional, and we want to provide young cricketers with a bigger platform to showcase themselves.”
Ambika Sharma, Head of Sports, Shrachi Tribes Bengal Tigers, said, “The auction has been an incredible mix of strategy, excitement, emotion, and adrenaline. It has been a fantastic experience, and I believe this format adds tremendous value to the league moving forward. Women’s cricket has enormous potential, and my focus will be on empowering the players, understanding their vision, and creating an environment where both the women’s and men’s teams can thrive together.”
Co-owners Rajat Subhra Roy and Saumya Shubra Roy, Adamas Howrah Warriors, said, “We are excited to return as defending champions and are fully focused on defending our title. Players like Hrithik Chatterjee were key targets for us because of the balance and experience they bring to the squad, especially in high-pressure T20 situations.”
Rakesh Krishnan, Head Coach, Rashmi Medinipur Wizards, said, “The auction format gave us much greater control over our strategy and preparation compared to previous seasons. We are pleased with the squad we have assembled, and acquiring key players at strong values was a major boost for us.”
