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Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 11 (ANI): The Bengal T20 League completed its biggest-ever player auction with franchises spending over Rs 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, according to a release.
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 Rs 12.20 lakh after being retained by Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers through RTM. Multiple players crossed the Rs 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 Rs 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 Rs 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 Rs 1.55 lakh by Rashmi Medinipur Wizards (0.30L base price). Franchises collectively spent nearly Rs 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 - Rs 12.20 lakh (RTM) - Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers
Abishek Porel - Rs 10.40 lakh - Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
Mukesh Kumar - Rs 9.60 lakh (RTM) - Sobisco Smashers Malda
Sudip Kumar Gharami - Rs 9.40 lakh - Novus Purulia Royals
Yuvraj Deepak Keswani - Rs 8.60 lakh - Novus Purulia Royals
Saksham Chaudhary - Rs 8.40 lakh - Murshidabad Kings
Writtick Chatterjee - Rs 8.20 lakh - Adamas Howrah Warriors
Ravi Kumar (U19) - Rs 7.80 lakh - Novus Purulia Royals
Rohit (U16) - Rs 5.20 lakh - Novus Purulia Royals
Subham Sarkar - Rs 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 Rs 7.80 lakh, while Rohit emerged as the top U16 signing at Rs 5.20 lakh.
Women's Auction - Top 10 Highest Picks
Mita Paul - Rs 3 lakh (RTM) - Lux Shyam Kolkata TigersDhara Gujjar - Rs 2.85 lakh - Novus Purulia Royals
Tanushree Sarkar - Rs 2.35 lakh (RTM) - Murshidabad Kueens
Priyanka Bala - Rs 2.25 lakh (RTM) - Servotech Siliguri Strikers
Prativa Rana - Rs 2.15 lakh (RTM) - Murshidabad Kueens
Hrishita Basu - Rs 2.10 lakh - Rashmi Medinipur Wizards
Piyali Ghosh - Rs 2.10 lakh (RTM) - Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers
Sujata Dey - Rs 2.05 lakh - Adamas Howrah Warriors
Prativa Mandi (U19) - Rs 2.05 lakh - Sobisco Smashers Malda
Trishita Sarkar - Rs 2.05 lakh - Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
Biggest U15 & Emerging Talent Picks
Ariktha Manna (13 years, U15) - Rs 1.55 lakh - Rashmi Medinipur Wizards
Debasmita Khalsa (14 years, U15) - Rs 0.65 lakh - Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
Manushri Rajak (14 years, U15) - Rs 0.50 lakh - Rashmi Medinipur Wizards
Sneha Mahato (14 years, U15) - Rs 0.48 lakh - Servotech Siliguri Strikers
Saikh Athiana (14 years, U15) - Rs 0.40 lakh - Sobisco Smashers Malda
Tanisha Das (14 years, U15) - Rs 0.34 lakh - Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers
Protistha Dutta (14 years, U15) - Rs 0.32 lakh - Adamas Howrah Warriors
Piyali Roy (13 years, U15) - Rs 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. (ANI)