Kolkata’s cricket fraternity buzzed as the Bengal T20 League auction concluded with franchises spending around 4.5 crore on men’s and women’s rosters for the 2026 edition. Historic men’s bidding saw Shahbaz Ahmed as the blockbuster at 12.20 lakh RTM to Shreevats Tribes Rarh Tigers, while Mita Paul ruled women at 3 lakh RTM to Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers.
Over 1,000 entered the pool; 264 exited with deals—136 men for 17-player squads (2+ U19 mandatory), 128 women for 16-player units (2+ U15 required). Intensity peaked with multiple 8-lakh-plus men’s bids and 10+ women over 2 lakh.
Key men’s acquisitions: Abhishek Porel (10.40L Kolkata Tigers), Mukesh Kumar (9.60L RTM Malda Smashers), Sudeep Gharami (9.40L Purulia Royals), Yuvraj Keswani/Saksham Chaudhary/Ritik Chatterjee (8.60/8.40/8.20L), Ravi U19 (7.80L Purulia), Rohit U16 (5.20L Purulia).
Women’s marquee signings: Dhara Gujjar (2.85L Purulia), Tanushree Sarkar/Pratibha Rana/Priyanka Bala (2.35/2.15/2.25L RTM), Rishita Basu/Piyali Ghosh (2.10L), Sujata Dey/Pratibha U19/Trishita Sarkar (2.05L). Rising stars: 13-year-old Ariktha Manna (1.55L Medinipur Wizards), followed by U15 picks like Debasmita (65k Kolkata), Manushri (50k Medinipur).
All A+ women sold out, women’s kitty at 88 lakh. This strategic spree blends seasoned pros with prodigious talents, positioning Bengal T20 as a launchpad for national hopefuls. Fans await the clashes that could redefine regional cricket dominance.
