The Bengal Pro T20 League ushered in a new era for Bengal cricket with the successful completion of its inaugural Men’s Player Auction in Kolkata on Saturday. All eight franchises went aggressive at the auction table, collectively spending more than ₹4 crore to build their squads ahead of the upcoming season.
Shahbaz Ahmed tops the auction chart
India all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed became the biggest attraction of the auction after being retained through the Right To Match (RTM) card by Shrachi Tribes Rarh Tigers for ₹12.20 lakh. The experienced cricketer topped the list of the most expensive signings as franchises battled hard for several established domestic stars and promising young talents.
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Wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel secured the second-highest bid after Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers picked him up for ₹10.40 lakh. Veteran all-rounder Mukesh Kumar was retained by Sobisco Smashers Malda for ₹9.60 lakh through RTM, while Sudip Kumar Gharami joined Novus Purulia Royals for ₹9.40 lakh.
Novus Purulia Royals make strong statement
Novus Purulia Royals, the newest franchise in the competition, made a strong statement in their debut auction by signing multiple top names. Apart from Sudip, the franchise also roped in Yuvraj Deepak Keswani for ₹8.60 lakh and Ravi Kumar for ₹7.80 lakh.
Among other notable signings, Murshidabad Kings secured Saksham Chaudhary for ₹8.40 lakh, while Adamas Howrah Warriors brought in Wriddhick Chatterjee for ₹8.20 lakh. Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers retained Sayan Ghosh for ₹8 lakh, and Servotech Siliguri Strikers signed Karan Lal for the same amount.
Focus remains on youth development
The auction featured players across five categories — A+, A, B, U19 and U16 — highlighting the league’s vision of developing Bengal’s cricketing ecosystem by blending experienced performers with emerging prospects. Youngster Rohit, aged just 16, was one of the youngest players to earn a contract after Novus Purulia Royals signed him for ₹5.20 lakh.
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Speaking after the auction, CAB president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly said the tournament would provide young cricketers with valuable exposure and help Bengal cricket grow further. He also expressed confidence that the competition would become highly competitive and beneficial for players across categories.
