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Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Atharva Ankolekar's INR 16.25L Mumbai T20 deal is more than money—it's a son's silent promise
An imposing performance in the previous season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, capped by a match-winning display in the final, had set the stage for Atharva Ankolekar to be one of the hot picks at the T20 Mumbai League auction. Expectations were high—but what unfolded on the evening of May 8, 2025, exceeded even those. It became a double celebration for the Ankolekar family. Atharva, the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, was snapped up by Eagle Thane Strikers for a staggering INR 16.25 lakh, making him the most expensive auction buy. And in a heartwarming turn, his younger brother Parth Ankolekar also earned his first-ever contract in the league. For Atharva, the disappointment of going unsold at the IPL mega auction last November was firmly in the past, just like the years of struggle that shaped his journey. As his mother beamed with pride watching Parth's name flash on the auction screen, Atharva felt a quiet resolve within—a promise to give back for everything his family had endured and supported. In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Atharva opened up on his rise as the top pick in the T20 Mumbai League, his brother's breakthrough moment, and his dreams of going bigger — the IPL, and eventually, the Indian team. Thank you so much. I did feel that I would go expensive, but I did not expect to be the highest-bid player. I want to thank the Eagle Thane team for trusting me. I had my eyes on the auction proceedings. Firstly, my name was not coming up because it was in the third set, so I became a bit tense. But when my name was called and the bidding process started, I controlled my nerves. It's not about the pressure yet, but my responsibility has increased because they showed so much trust in me. It also subsequently offers an opportunity because all eyes will be on me. I love challenges, so I will enjoy it. Whatever I have achieved until now is all because of my father and the sacrifices he made. He used to work night shifts in BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) so that he could help me practice during the day. After my father passed away, things became very difficult. But the way my mother handled it all, I just feel it's time to pay off. She was very happy. More than me, she was happy for my brother (Parth Ankolekar, Bandra Blasters, INR 3 lakh), who also got sold at the auction. He is a very aggressive captain and reads the situation very well. Look at IPL, he held the Purple Cap at one point in the season. Whatever way he contributes to the team will be very important for us. He puts in a lot of effort and shows a lot of involvement, whether during training sessions or matches. I had already missed the league stage of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, because I was injured owing to an MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) tear. But everything happened smoothly thereafter. Yes the timing was a bit wrong, because I missed the auction and was not able to play. But I am happy that I was able to contribute in a winning cause in Mumbai lifting the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It definitely helps. This season, many players were picked from the Delhi and UP leagues, so it will be immensely beneficial for the Mumbai league players to earn that promotion and make it through to the IPL and probably then to the Indian team. I would not want to think that. I would rather take it game by game. I would just want to perform to the best of my abilities. The only pressure I would want to put on myself is that I want to be part of the winning team. If my team is winning, then I would want to have my contributions there. I want to help Eagle Thane win. That will always stay at the back of my mind. But again, one game at a time. I don't want to think that far ahead. Of course, it inspires me. We were all part of the same dressing room then, and I am really happy for them. All I wish is I get to be in the same dressing room as them again, but now for the Indian team. I haven't met him, though. Just saw him from afar (smiles). His intent and game involvement are what I admire the most. Even if he does not have a good day with the bat or bowl, he covers it up with his fielding and can help the team win. I want to send out a special thanks to Suryakumar Yadav for trusting me. When I got an opportunity, he played a huge role in that. He helped me a lot, right from my early days. What inspires me about him is his ability to switch on and switch off on match days. On the field, he is full-on intent, but once the game ends, he is chill.
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First Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Atharva Ankolekar costliest player at T20 Mumbai League 2025 Auction; Ayush Mhatre, Musheer Khan among top buys
Ankolekar attracted the highest bid of Rs 16.25 lakh while IPL 2025 rising stars Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi went for Rs 14.75 lakh and Rs 14 lakh respectively. read more Atharva Ankolekar emerged the costliest player at the T20 Mumbai League 2025 auction in which he was acquired by Eagle Thane Strikes for Rs 15 lakh. Image: Instagram: Instagram/ All-rounder Atharva Ankolekar emerged the costliest buy as the T20 Mumbai League 2025 auction witnessed intense bidding wars in Mumbai on Wednesday, as eight teams spent ₹7.79 crores to build highly competitive 18-member squads. The T20 Mumbai League, one of India's leading franchise-based domestic T20 tournaments, is all set for a highly anticipated third season, scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium from May 26 to June 8. Around 280 players went under the hammer as each team came up with a strategic approach to assemble a balanced squad comprising of a mix of young upcoming talent and experienced campaigners. The spotlight was on all-rounders, with 24-year-old Ankolekar securing the highest bid of the auction, to join Eagle Thane Strikers for ₹16.25 lakh. During the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final 2024, Ankolekar had played a significant role in Mumbai's victory. Musheer Khan, a member of the Punjab Kings squad, and Sairaj Patil were the other all-rounders who attracted mega deals of ₹15 lakh each. Musheer went to ARCS Andheri, while Sairaj was signed by Eagle Thane Strikers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rising stars from IPL 2025, Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, were picked up by Triumph Knights Mumbai North East and SoBo Mumbai Falcons for ₹14.75 lakh and ₹14 lakh respectively. Akash Parkar was the highlight from the 'Development Players' category as the all-rounder fetched more than five times his base price (2 lakh) to find a place in SoBo Mumbai Falcons for an impressive ₹11.25 lakh. 'It's truly encouraging to see emerging players gaining the recognition they deserve. This league continues to serve as a platform to identify and promote promising cricketing talent. The strategic approach of teams during today's auction reflects their deep commitment to the league and its vision. With a balanced mix of experienced players and exciting talent, fans can look forward to high-voltage action as we aim to set a new benchmark for domestic T20 cricket," commented MCA President Ajinkya Naik. India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who is also an Icon Player of Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, also attended the auction and spoke about the league's role as a stepping stone for young cricketers. 'You must have seen in 2018, Shivam Dubey had a terrific T20 Mumbai League season and then he went on to make a name for himself. Similarly, having such league for your state is I think a big boost for all the cricketers across categories. So I think it's a good thing and hopefully it [the league] happens every year and we get a lot of players,' said Suryakumar Yadav. Expressing his happiness after becoming the most expensive buy in the auction, Ankolekar said: 'I'm truly excited to play in the T20 Mumbai League and join Eagle Thane Strikers. It's a big moment for me, and I'm grateful for the trust the team has placed in me. I'm looking forward to sharing the field with players like Shardul Thakur. A big thank you to the MCA for bringing this league back—it's a fantastic platform for Mumbai cricketers. My focus is now to make the most of this opportunity in my debut season and contribute to the team's success.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The league also features a star-studded line-up of icon players which includes Suryakumar Yadav (Triumph Knights Mumbai North East), Ajinkya Rahane (Bandra Blasters), Shreyas Iyer (SoBo Mumbai Falcons), Prithvi Shaw (North Mumbai Panthers), Shivam Dube (ARCS Andheri), Shardul Thakur (Eagle Thane Strikers), Sarfaraz Khan (Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs) and Tushar Deshpande (Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals). Top buys • Atharva Ankolekar (₹16.25 lakh) - Eagle Thane Strikers • Musheer Khan (₹15 lakh) - ARCS Andheri • Sairaj Patil (₹15 lakh) - Eagle Thane Strikers • Ayush Mhatre (₹14.75 lakh) - Triumph Knights Mumbai North East • Angkrish Raghuvanshi (₹14 lakh) - SoBo Mumbai Falcons • Shams Mulani (₹14 lakh) - Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs Complete Squads Triumph Knights Mumbai North East:* Suryakumar Yadav (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Sidhaant Aadhhathrao (7.75 lakh), Ayush Mhatre (14.75 lakh), Suryansh Shedge (13.75 lakh), Parikshit Valsangkar (7.25 lakh), Jigar Rana (2 lakh), Jay Jain (4 lakh), Hrishikesh Gore (3.40 lakh), Akash Pawar (3 lakh), Shreyas Gurav (3 lakh), Bharat Sudam Patil (2 lakh), Makarand Patil (2 lakh), Sagar Mishra (3 lakh), Shikhar Thakur (2 lakh), Shivam Nirupam (2.20 lakh), Parth Naik (3 lakh), Yash Chavan (2 lakh), Minadd Manjrekar (2 lakh) Bandra Blasters:* Ajinkya Rahane (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Suved Parkar (8.50 lakh), Akash Anand (8.25 lakh), Royston Dias (7 lakh), Karsh Kothari (5 lakh), Tushar Singh (3 lakh), Atharva Poojari (3 lakh), Shyamsundar Keshkamat (3.20 lakh), Dhanit Raut (4.60 lakh), Naman Pushpak (3 lakh), Parth Ankolekar (3 lakh), Atif Attarwala (6.25 lakh), Dhrumil Matkar (7.25 lakh), M Adeeb Usmani (2.70 lakh), Sagarr Chhabriaa (3 lakh), Tatsat Singh (2 lakh), Rishit Patwal (2 lakh), Vikrant Auti (2 lakh) North Mumbai Panthers:* Prithvi Shaw (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Tanush Kotian (10 lakh), Mohit Avasthi (10.50 lakh), Khizar Dafedar (5.50 lakh), Divyaansh Saxena (5.25 lakh), Abhigyan Kundu (5 lakh), Ayush Vartak (6.25 lakh), Sourabh Singh (3.80 lakh), Harshal Jadhav (5 lakh), Prince Badiani (4 lakh), Alim Shaikh (2 lakh), Gaurav Jathar (3.40 lakh), Muzzamil Kadri (2 lakh), Pratik Mishra (6 lakh), Rahul Sawant (3.60 lakh), Pravesh Pal (2 lakh), Swapnil Salvi (2 lakh), Dharsh Murkute (2 lakh) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD SoBo Mumbai Falcons:* Shreyas Iyer (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (14 lakh), Vinayak Bhoir (5.75 lakh), Siddharth Raut (7 lakh), Harsh Aghav (5.25 lakh), Kush Kariya (3 lakh), Nikhil Giri (3 lakh), Prem Devkar (3 lakh), Akash Parkar (11.25 lakh), Amol Tarpure (2 lakh), Ishan Mulchandani (3.40 lakh), Mayuresh Tandel (2 lakh), Prathamesh Dake (4.6 lakh), Shreyanssh Rai (2 lakh), Yash Dicholkar (2 lakh), Amogh Bhatkal (5 lakh), Nishit Balla (3 lakh), Sai Chavan (3 lakh) ARCS Andheri:* Shivam Dube (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Prasad Pawar (13 lakh), Musheer Khan (15 lakh), Himanshu Singh (5.50 lakh), Akhil Herwadkar (6.50 lakh), Siddid Tiwari (3 lakh), Raza Mirza (3 lakh), Pragnesh Kanpillewar (4.60 lakh), Saksham Jha (3.60 lakh), Prasoon Singh (3 lakh), Aishwary Surve (2 lakh), Ajay Mishra (2 lakh), Badrey Alam (2.50 lakh), M N Khan (2 lakh), Monil Soni (2.20 lakh), Deepak Shetty (2 lakh), Onkar Jadhav (2 lakh), Sandeep Kunchikor (2 lakh) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Eagle Thane Strikers:* Shardul Thakur (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Shashank Attarde (6.50 lakh), Sairaj Patil (15 lakh), Atharva Ankolekar (16.25 lakh), Harsh Tanna (7.75 lakh), Varun Lavande (5 lakh), Ajit Yadav (3.80 lakhs), Aryan Chauhan (3 lakh), Harsh Salunkhe (3 lakh), Nutan Goel (3 lakh), Aaryaraj Nikam (2.10 lakh), Amartya Raje (2 lakh), Kaushik Chikhalikar (2 lakh), Shashikant Kadam (2 lakh), Onkar Tarmale (2 lakh), Anish Chaudhery (2 lakh), Ankur Singh (2 lakh), Shivansh Singh (2 lakh) Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs:* Sarfaraz Khan (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Hardik Tamore (8.50 lakh), Jay Bista (12 lakh), Shams Mulani (14 lakh), Sylvester Dsouza (5 lakh), Ayaz Ahmed (5.25 lakh), Siddharth Akre (4.60 lakh), Arjun Dani (4.20 lakh), M Yaseen Saudagar (3 lakh), Zaid Patankar (3.60 lakh), Karan Shah (2 lakh), Kruthik Hanagavadi (2 lakh), Sufiyan Shaikh (2.60 lakh), Vasim Khan (2 lakh), Yash Dube (2 lakh), S M Hashim (2 lakh), Ayush Jathwa (3 lakh), Salman Khan (2 lakh) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals:* Tushar Deshpande (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Siddhessh Lad (10.25 lakh), Sachin Yadav (7 lakh), Aditya Dhumal (7.25 lakh), Awais Khan (4.20 lakh), Sahil Jadhav (3 lakh), Naman Jhawar (3 lakh), Maxwell Swaminathan (4.60 lakh), Varun Rao (3 lakh), Rohan Ghag (3 lakh), Ajay Janu (2.20 lakh), Chinmay Sutar (5 lakh), Irfan Umair (9.25 lakh), Parag Khanapurkar (6 lakh), Arman Jaffar (5 lakh), Vaibhav Mali (2 lakh), Yash Gadia (2 lakh), Shashwat Jagtap (3 Lakh).
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
T20 Mumbai League 2025 Auction: Atharva Ankolekar emerges costliest player; Musheer Khan, Ayush Mhatre among top buys
All-rounder Atharva Ankolekar emerged the costliest buy as the T20 Mumbai League 2025 auction witnessed intense bidding wars in Mumbai on Wednesday, as eight teams spent ₹7.79 crores to build highly competitive 18-member squads, according to a release from T20 Mumbai League. The T20 Mumbai League, one of India's leading franchise-based domestic T20 tournaments, is all set for a highly anticipated third season, scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium from May 26 to June 8. Around 280 players went under the hammer as each team came up with a strategic approach to assemble a balanced squad comprising a mix of young, upcoming talent and experienced campaigners. The spotlight was on all-rounders, with 24-year-old Ankolekar securing the highest bid of the auction, to join Eagle Thane Strikers for ₹16.25 lakh. During the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final 2024, Ankolekar had played a significant role in Mumbai's victory. Musheer Khan, a member of the Punjab Kings squad, and Sairaj Patil were the other all-rounders who attracted mega deals of ₹15 lakh each. Musheer went to ARCS Andheri, while Sairaj was signed by Eagle Thane Strikers. Rising stars from IPL 2025, Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, were picked up by Triumph Knights Mumbai North East and SoBo Mumbai Falcons for ₹14.75 lakh and ₹14 lakh respectively. Akash Parkar was the highlight from the 'Development Players' category as the all-rounder fetched more than five times his base price (2 lakh) to find a place in SoBo Mumbai Falcons for an impressive ₹11.25 lakh. "It's truly encouraging to see emerging players gaining the recognition they deserve. This league continues to serve as a platform to identify and promote promising cricketing talent. The strategic approach of teams during today's auction reflects their deep commitment to the league and its vision. With a balanced mix of experienced players and exciting talent, fans can look forward to high-voltage action as we aim to set a new benchmark for domestic T20 cricket," commented MCA President Ajinkya Naik, as quoted from a release from the T20 Mumbai League. India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who is also an Icon Player of Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, also attended the auction and spoke about the league's role as a stepping stone for young cricketers. "You must have seen in 2018, Shivam Dubey had a terrific T20 Mumbai League season and then he went on to make a name for himself. Similarly, having such league for your state is I think a big boost for all the cricketers across categories. So I think it's a good thing and hopefully it [the league] happens every year and we get a lot of players," said Suryakumar Yadav. Expressing his happiness after becoming the most expensive buy in the auction, Ankolekar said: "I'm truly excited to play in the T20 Mumbai League and join Eagle Thane Strikers. It's a big moment for me, and I'm grateful for the trust the team has placed in me. I'm looking forward to sharing the field with players like Shardul Thakur. A big thank you to the MCA for bringing this league back--it's a fantastic platform for Mumbai cricketers. My focus is now to make the most of this opportunity in my debut season and contribute to the team's success." The league also features a star-studded line-up of icon players which includes Suryakumar Yadav (Triumph Knights Mumbai North East), Ajinkya Rahane (Bandra Blasters), Shreyas Iyer (SoBo Mumbai Falcons), Prithvi Shaw (North Mumbai Panthers), Shivam Dube (ARCS Andheri), Shardul Thakur (Eagle Thane Strikers), Sarfaraz Khan (Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs) and Tushar Deshpande (Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals). Top buys -* Atharva Ankolekar ( ₹16.25 lakh) - Eagle Thane Strikers* Musheer Khan ( ₹15 lakh) - ARCS Andheri* Sairaj Patil ( ₹15 lakh) - Eagle Thane Strikers* Ayush Mhatre ( ₹14.75 lakh) - Triumph Knights Mumbai North East* Angkrish Raghuvanshi ( ₹14 lakh) - SoBo Mumbai Falcons* Shams Mulani ( ₹14 lakh) - Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs Complete Squads Triumph Knights Mumbai North East: Suryakumar Yadav (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Sidhaant Aadhhathrao (7.75 lakh), Ayush Mhatre (14.75 lakh), Suryansh Shedge (13.75 lakh), Parikshit Valsangkar (7.25 lakh), Parikshit Valsangkar (7.25 lakh), Jay Jain (4 lakh), Hrishikesh Gore (3.40 lakh), Akash Pawar (3 lakh), Shreyas Gurav (3 lakh), Bharat Sudam Patil (2 lakh), Makarand Patil (2 lakh), Sagar Mishra (3 lakh), Shikhar Thakur (2 lakh), Shivam Nirupam (2.20 lakh), Parth Naik (3 lakh), Yash Chavan (2 lakh), Minadd Manjrekar (2 lakh) Bandra Blasters: Ajinkya Rahane (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Suved Parkar (8.50 lakh), Akash Anand (8.25 lakh), Royston Dias (7 lakh), Karsh Kothari (5 lakh), Tushar Singh (3 lakh), Atharva Poojari (3 lakh), Shyamsundar Keshkamat (3.20 lakh), Dhanit Raut (4.60 lakh), Naman Pushpak (3 lakh), Parth Ankolekar (3 lakh), Atif Attarwala (6.25 lakh), Dhrumil Matkar (7.25 lakh), M Adeeb Usmani (2.70 lakh), Sagarr Chhabriaa (3 lakh), Tatsat Singh (2 lakh), Rihit Patwal (2 lakh), Vikrant Auti (2 lakh) North Mumbai Panthers: Prithvi Shaw (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Tanush Kotian (10 lakh), Mohit Avasthi (10.50 lakh), Khizar Dafedar (5.50 lakh), Divyaansh Saxena (5.25 lakh), Abhigyan Kundu (5 lakh), Ayush Vartak (6.25 lakh), Sourabh Singh (3.80 lakh), Harshal Jadhav (5 lakh), Prince Badiani (4 lakh), Alim Shaikh (2 lakh), Gaurav Jathar (3.40 lakh), Muzzamil Kadri (2 lakh), Pratik Mishra (6 lakh), Rahul Sawant (3.60 lakh), Pravesh Pal (2 lakh), Swapnil Salvi (2 lakh), Dharsh Murkute (2 lakh) SoBo Mumbai Falcons: Shreyas Iyer (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (14 lakh), Vinayak Bhoir (5.75 lakh), Siddharth Raut (7 lakh), Harsh Aghav (5.25 lakh), Kush Kariya (3 lakh), Nikhil Giri (3 lakh), Prem Devkar (3 lakh), Akash Parkar (11.25 lakh), Amol Tarpure (2 lakh), Ishan Mulchandani (3.40 lakh), Mayuresh Tandel (2 lakh), Prathamesh Dake (4.6 lakh), Shreyanssh Rai (2 lakh), Yash Dicholkar (2 lakh), Amogh Bhatkal (5 lakh), Nishit Balla (3 lakh), Sai Chavan (3 lakh) ARCS Andheri: Shivam Dube (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Prasad Pawar (13 lakh), Musheer Khan (15 lakh), Himanshu Singh (5.50 lakh), Akhil Herwadkar (6.50 lakh), Siddid Tiwari (3 lakh), Raza Mirza (3 lakh), Pragnesh Kanpillewar (4.60 lakh), Saksham Jha (3.60 lakh), Prasoon Singh (3 lakh), Aishwary Surve (2 lakh), Ajay Mishra (2 lakh), Badrey Alam (2.50 lakh), M N Khan (2 lakh), Monil Soni (2.20 lakh), Deepak Shetty (2 lakh), Onkar Jadhav (2 lakh), Sandeep Kunchikor (2 lakh) Eagle Thane Strikers: Shardul Thakur (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Shashank Attarde (6.50 lakh), Sairaj Patil (15 lakh), Atharva Ankolekar (16.25 lakh), Harsh Tanna (7.75 lakh), Varun Lavande (5 lakh), Ajit Yadav (3.80 lakhs), Aryan Chauhan (3 lakh), Harsh Salunkhe (3 lakh), Nutan Goel (3 lakh), Aaryaraj Nikam (2.10 lakh), Amartya Raje (2 lakh), Kaushik Chikhalikar (2 lakh), Shashikant Kadam (2 lakh), Omkar Tarmale (2 lakh), Anish Chaudhery (2 lakh), Ankur Singh (2 lakh), Shivansh Singh (2 lakh) Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs: Sarfaraz Khan (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Hardik Tamore (8.50 lakh), Jay Bista (12 lakh), Shams Mulani (14 lakh), Sylvester Dsouza (5 lakh), Ayaz Ahmed (5.25 lakh), Siddharth Akre (4.60 lakh), Arjun Dani (4.20 lakh), M Yaseen Saudagar (3 lakh), Zaid Patankar (3.60 lakh), Karan Shah (2 lakh), Kruthik Hanagavadi (2 lakh), Sufiyan Shaikh (2.60 lakh), Vasim Khan (2 lakh), Yash Dube (2 lakh), S M Hashim (2 lakh), Ayush Jathwa (3 lakh), Salman Khan (2 lakh) Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals: Tushar Deshpande (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Siddhesh Lad (10.25 lakh), Sachin Yadav (7 lakh), Aditya Dhumal (7.25 lakh), Awais Khan (4.20 lakh), Sahil Jadhav (3 lakh), Naman Jhawar (3 lakh), Maxwell Swaminathan (4.60 lakh), Varun Rao (3 lakh), Rohan Ghag (3 lakh), Ajay Janu (2.20 lakh), Chinmay Sutar (5 lakh), Irfan Umair (9.25 lakh), Parag Khanapurkar (6 lakh), Arman Jaffar (5 lakh), Vaibhav Mali (2 lakh), Yash Gadia (2 lakh), Shashwat Jagtap (3 Lakh). (ANI)
NDTV
08-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Atharva Ankolekar Emerges Costliest Player; Ayush Mhatre, Musheer Khan, Sairaj Patil Among Top Buys At T20 Mumbai League 2025 Auction
All-rounder Atharva Ankolekar emerged the costliest buy as the T20 Mumbai League 2025 auction witnessed intense bidding wars in Mumbai on Wednesday, as eight teams spent Rs 7.79 crores to build highly competitive 18-member squads. The T20 Mumbai League, one of India's leading franchise-based domestic T20 tournaments, is all set for a highly anticipated third season, scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium from May 26 to June 8. Around 280 players went under the hammer as each team came up with a strategic approach to assemble a balanced squad comprising of a mix of young upcoming talent and experienced campaigners. The spotlight was on all-rounders, with 24-year-old Ankolekar securing the highest bid of the auction, to join Eagle Thane Strikers for Rs 16.25 lakh. During the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final 2024, Ankolekar had played a significant role in Mumbai's victory. Musheer Khan, a member of the Punjab Kings squad, and Sairaj Patil were the other all-rounders who attracted mega deals of Rs 15 lakh each. Musheer went to ARCS Andheri, while Sairaj was signed by Eagle Thane Strikers. Rising stars from IPL 2025, Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, were picked up by Triumph Knights Mumbai North East and SoBo Mumbai Falcons for Rs 14.75 lakh and Rs 14 lakh respectively. Akash Parkar was the highlight from the 'Development Players' category as the all-rounder fetched more than five times his base price (2 lakh) to find a place in SoBo Mumbai Falcons for an impressive Rs 11.25 lakh. "It's truly encouraging to see emerging players gaining the recognition they deserve. This league continues to serve as a platform to identify and promote promising cricketing talent. The strategic approach of teams during today's auction reflects their deep commitment to the league and its vision. With a balanced mix of experienced players and exciting talent, fans can look forward to high-voltage action as we aim to set a new benchmark for domestic T20 cricket," commented MCA President Ajinkya Naik. India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who is also an Icon Player of Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, also attended the auction and spoke about the league's role as a stepping stone for young cricketers. "You must have seen in 2018, Shivam Dubey had a terrific T20 Mumbai League season and then he went on to make a name for himself. Similarly, having such league for your state is I think a big boost for all the cricketers across categories. So I think it's a good thing and hopefully it [the league] happens every year and we get a lot of players," said Suryakumar Yadav. Expressing his happiness after becoming the most expensive buy in the auction, Ankolekar said: "I'm truly excited to play in the T20 Mumbai League and join Eagle Thane Strikers. It's a big moment for me, and I'm grateful for the trust the team has placed in me. I'm looking forward to sharing the field with players like Shardul Thakur. A big thank you to the MCA for bringing this league back-it's a fantastic platform for Mumbai cricketers. My focus is now to make the most of this opportunity in my debut season and contribute to the team's success." The league also features a star-studded line-up of icon players which includes Suryakumar Yadav (Triumph Knights Mumbai North East), Ajinkya Rahane (Bandra Blasters), Shreyas Iyer (SoBo Mumbai Falcons), Prithvi Shaw (North Mumbai Panthers), Shivam Dube (ARCS Andheri), Shardul Thakur (Eagle Thane Strikers), Sarfaraz Khan (Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs) and Tushar Deshpande (Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals). Top buys Atharva Ankolekar (Rs 16.25 lakh) - Eagle Thane Strikers Musheer Khan (Rs 15 lakh) - ARCS Andheri Sairaj Patil (Rs 15 lakh) - Eagle Thane Strikers Ayush Mhatre (Rs 14.75 lakh) - Triumph Knights Mumbai North East Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Rs 14 lakh) - SoBo Mumbai Falcons Shams Mulani (Rs 14 lakh) - Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs Complete Squads Triumph Knights Mumbai North East: Suryakumar Yadav (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Sidhaant Aadhhathrao (7.75 lakh), Ayush Mhatre (14.75 lakh), Suryansh Shedge (13.75 lakh), Parikshit Valsangkar (7.25 lakh), Jigar Rana (2 lakh), Jay Jain (4 lakh), Hrishikesh Gore (3.40 lakh), Akash Pawar (3 lakh), Shreyas Gurav (3 lakh), Bharat Sudam Patil (2 lakh), Makarand Patil (2 lakh), Sagar Mishra (3 lakh), Shikhar Thakur (2 lakh), Shivam Nirupam (2.20 lakh), Parth Naik (3 lakh), Yash Chavan (2 lakh), Minadd Manjrekar (2 lakh) Bandra Blasters: Ajinkya Rahane (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Suved Parkar (8.50 lakh), Akash Anand (8.25 lakh), Royston Dias (7 lakh), Karsh Kothari (5 lakh), Tushar Singh (3 lakh), Atharva Poojari (3 lakh), Shyamsundar Keshkamat (3.20 lakh), Dhanit Raut (4.60 lakh), Naman Pushpak (3 lakh), Parth Ankolekar (3 lakh), Atif Attarwala (6.25 lakh), Dhrumil Matkar (7.25 lakh), M Adeeb Usmani (2.70 lakh), Sagarr Chhabriaa (3 lakh), Tatsat Singh (2 lakh), Rishit Patwal (2 lakh), Vikrant Auti (2 lakh) North Mumbai Panthers: Prithvi Shaw (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Tanush Kotian (10 lakh), Mohit Avasthi (10.50 lakh), Khizar Dafedar (5.50 lakh), Divyaansh Saxena (5.25 lakh), Abhigyan Kundu (5 lakh), Ayush Vartak (6.25 lakh), Sourabh Singh (3.80 lakh), Harshal Jadhav (5 lakh), Prince Badiani (4 lakh), Alim Shaikh (2 lakh), Gaurav Jathar (3.40 lakh), Muzzamil Kadri (2 lakh), Pratik Mishra (6 lakh), Rahul Sawant (3.60 lakh), Pravesh Pal (2 lakh), Swapnil Salvi (2 lakh), Dharsh Murkute (2 lakh) SoBo Mumbai Falcons: Shreyas Iyer (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (14 lakh), Vinayak Bhoir (5.75 lakh), Siddharth Raut (7 lakh), Harsh Aghav (5.25 lakh), Kush Kariya (3 lakh), Nikhil Giri (3 lakh), Prem Devkar (3 lakh), Akash Parkar (11.25 lakh), Amol Tarpure (2 lakh), Ishan Mulchandani (3.40 lakh), Mayuresh Tandel (2 lakh), Prathamesh Dake (4.6 lakh), Shreyanssh Rai (2 lakh), Yash Dicholkar (2 lakh), Amogh Bhatkal (5 lakh), Nishit Balla (3 lakh), Sai Chavan (3 lakh) ARCS Andheri: Shivam Dube (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Prasad Pawar (13 lakh), Musheer Khan (15 lakh), Himanshu Singh (5.50 lakh), Akhil Herwadkar (6.50 lakh), Siddid Tiwari (3 lakh), Raza Mirza (3 lakh), Pragnesh Kanpillewar (4.60 lakh), Saksham Jha (3.60 lakh), Prasoon Singh (3 lakh), Aishwary Surve (2 lakh), Ajay Mishra (2 lakh), Badrey Alam (2.50 lakh), M N Khan (2 lakh), Monil Soni (2.20 lakh), Deepak Shetty (2 lakh), Onkar Jadhav (2 lakh), Sandeep Kunchikor (2 lakh) Eagle Thane Strikers: Shardul Thakur (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Shashank Attarde (6.50 lakh), Sairaj Patil (15 lakh), Atharva Ankolekar (16.25 lakh), Harsh Tanna (7.75 lakh), Varun Lavande (5 lakh), Ajit Yadav (3.80 lakhs), Aryan Chauhan (3 lakh), Harsh Salunkhe (3 lakh), Nutan Goel (3 lakh), Aaryaraj Nikam (2.10 lakh), Amartya Raje (2 lakh), Kaushik Chikhalikar (2 lakh), Shashikant Kadam (2 lakh), Onkar Tarmale (2 lakh), Anish Chaudhery (2 lakh), Ankur Singh (2 lakh), Shivansh Singh (2 lakh) Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs: Sarfaraz Khan (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Hardik Tamore (8.50 lakh), Jay Bista (12 lakh), Shams Mulani (14 lakh), Sylvester Dsouza (5 lakh), Ayaz Ahmed (5.25 lakh), Siddharth Akre (4.60 lakh), Arjun Dani (4.20 lakh), M Yaseen Saudagar (3 lakh), Zaid Patankar (3.60 lakh), Karan Shah (2 lakh), Kruthik Hanagavadi (2 lakh), Sufiyan Shaikh (2.60 lakh), Vasim Khan (2 lakh), Yash Dube (2 lakh), S M Hashim (2 lakh), Ayush Jathwa (3 lakh), Salman Khan (2 lakh) Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals: Tushar Deshpande (Icon Player, 20 lakh), Siddhessh Lad (10.25 lakh), Sachin Yadav (7 lakh), Aditya Dhumal (7.25 lakh), Awais Khan (4.20 lakh), Sahil Jadhav (3 lakh), Naman Jhawar (3 lakh), Maxwell Swaminathan (4.60 lakh), Varun Rao (3 lakh), Rohan Ghag (3 lakh), Ajay Janu (2.20 lakh), Chinmay Sutar (5 lakh), Irfan Umair (9.25 lakh), Parag Khanapurkar (6 lakh), Arman Jaffar (5 lakh), Vaibhav Mali (2 lakh), Yash Gadia (2 lakh), Shashwat Jagtap (3 Lakh).
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Ankolekar the most expensive buy
Youngsters Atharva Ankolekar and Musheer Khan were the highlights of the T20 Mumbai League auction as eight teams were involved in an intense bidding on Wednesday. While Eagle Thane Strikers roped in left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Ankolekar for a whopping ₹16.25 lakh, Musheer and Sairaj Patil went to ARCS Andheri and Eagle Thane Strikers respectively for ₹15 lakh each. Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were roped in by Triumph Knights Mumbai North East (₹14.75 lakh) and SoBo Mumbai Falcons (₹14 lakh). The seasoned spinner Shams Mulani, too, got a ₹14 lakh deal from Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs. Tanush Kotian, who was part of India's Test squad in Australia, went to North Mumbai Panthers for ₹10 lakh. Top buys Ankolekar (₹16.25 lakh): Eagle Thane Strikers Musheer (₹15 lakh): ARCS Andheri Sairaj (₹15 lakh): Eagle Thane Strikers Mhatre (₹14.75 lakh): Triumph Knights Mumbai North East Raghuvanshi (₹14 lakh): SoBo Mumbai Falcons Mulani (₹14 lakh): Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs With the league returning after six years, nearly 280 players went under the hammer, and as youngsters Mhatre and Raghuvanshi garnered all the attention, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on both. 'Both are very promising cricketers and crazy young talent, very hardworking, good boys. You're seeing what's happening with them when they're playing franchise cricket. It's really a great thing that two young boys are making a mark in franchise cricket at such a young age and are dominating,' Suryakumar, who is the icon player for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, said. Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik confirmed that the tournament will have the Impact Player rule, on the lines of the IPL.
