ISPL Season 3 Sets New Benchmark with Thrilling Mega Auction
Mumbai recently witnessed the grand Season 3 auction of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), a leading tennis-ball T10 cricket tournament in India. This year, nearly INR 10 crore was spent as eight franchises fiercely competed for the best talent over an exhilarating day of bidding.
The auction’s spotlight was on Vijay Pawle, a talented all-rounder from the West Zone. He made headlines by being sold for an astonishing INR 32.50 lakh to the defending champions, Majhi Mumbai. Pawle is no stranger to success, having steered his team to victory last season. Following him was Ketan Mhatre from the West Zone, who was retained through the Right to Match (RTM) card for INR 26.40 lakh by the Chennai Singams, making him the second-highest buy of the day.
With two new teams, Ahmedabad Lions and Delhi Superheros, joining the league, this season looks set to be the most competitive yet. The tournament will run from January 9 to February 6, 2026, at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat. This auction showcased the ISPL’s growing influence, with 408 players hailing from 101 cities going under the hammer.
The event attracted significant attention, featuring well-known personalities from cricket and entertainment. The ISPL Core Committee had famous members like Sachin Tendulkar and Ashish Shelar, among others. Team co-owners, including Akshay Kumar (Srinagar Ke Veer), Saif Ali Khan and Aksha Kamboj (Tiigers of Kolkata), and Salman Khan and Arpita Khan Sharma (Delhi Superheros), were also present during the bidding war.
To kick things off, the day started with the unveiling of a new innovation called the ‘Street Star.’ This humanoid creation aims to enhance fan engagement in ISPL Season 3, adding an exciting new element for the spectators.
The auction also saw spirited bidding for the U-19 players. Ankit Yadav became the costliest young player, going to the Tiigers of Kolkata for INR 6.50 lakh. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Rudra Patil made waves by being the youngest player of this season, picked by Srinagar Ke Veer at his base price of INR 3 lakh.
While speaking at the auction, Sachin Tendulkar emphasized the essence of passion in cricket, encouraging the players to focus on their personal growth rather than seeking validation from the world. “Climb the mountain to see the world, not so that the world can see you,” he advised, inspiring the young athletes.
Another Core Committee member, Ashish Shelar, highlighted how the ISPL serves as a platform for budding cricketers to shine. “The league is designed to unlock potential across the country, and we are already witnessing its impact,” he shared.
Minal Amol Kale also acknowledged how the auction serves as a career-defining moment for many cricketers. She expressed hope that players selected this season would leverage this opportunity to fulfill their dreams.
Suraj Samat, who is the League Commissioner, described this year’s auction as one of the most competitive in ISPL’s history. According to him, teams had well-thought-out strategies, and the use of “Googly Power,” RTM, and player retention options added layers to the intense bidding process.
The expansion of the league to eight teams, including the newly introduced Delhi Superheros and Ahmedabad Lions, makes it even more thrilling. These teams join established ones like Majhi Mumbai (owned by Amitabh Bachchan) and Tiigers of Kolkata (owned by Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan).
In addition, ISPL announced a special incentive for players. This season, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will take home a Porsche 911, making it one of the most extraordinary individual awards in Indian sports.
Highlights from the Auction
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Top Buys:
- Vijay Pawle – ₹32.50 lakh (Majhi Mumbai)
- Ketan Mhatre – ₹26.40 lakh (Chennai Singams)
- Rajendra Singh – ₹26.10 lakh (Bengaluru Strikers)
- Sanjay Kanojjiya – ₹24.55 lakh (Ahmedabad Lions)
- Saif Ali – ₹23.65 lakh (Tiigers of Kolkata)
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Top U-19 Players:
- Ankit Yadav – ₹6.50 lakh (Tiigers of Kolkata)
- Rudra Patil – ₹3 lakh (Srinagar Ke Veer)
With the excitement surrounding this year’s auction, fans eagerly await the matches coming up in Surat. The talent displayed and the money spent indicate that Season 3 of the ISPL will be one for the books.
Hashtags: #ISPLSeason3 #IndianStreetPremierLeague #CricketAuction #VijayPawle #T10Cricket
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