Not Ishan Kishan! Mumbai Indians star becomes most expensive pick in Jharkhand T20 League Auction
The cricketing landscape of Jharkhand is poised for an exciting transformation with the successful completion of the player auction for the inaugural Jharkhand T20 League. Organised by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), this new domestic tournament has already captivated cricket enthusiasts, as six ambitious franchises meticulously assembled their squads in anticipation of the thrilling competition ahead.
The highly anticipated auction event unfolded at the Wave International Hotel in Ranchi on Saturday, May 30. A substantial pool of 275 talented cricketers put their names forward, all vying for a spot in one of the six teams. Each franchise operated under a stringent and uniform budget, ensuring a level playing field for squad construction. The Jharkhand T20 League is scheduled to commence on June 10, promising to be a vital platform for local players to showcase their skills and ascend to higher levels of the sport.
Not Ishan Kishan! Mumbai Indians Star Becomes Most Expensive Pick
The auction witnessed a remarkable bidding war, culminating in a significant surprise. It was Not Ishan Kishan! Mumbai Indians star becomes most expensive pick in Jharkhand T20 League, as the Koylanchal Super Kings secured the services of promising wicketkeeper-batter Robin Minz for an impressive ₹15.25 lakh. This landmark signing saw Minz eclipse the bidding for India international and familiar name, Ishan Kishan, who was acquired by the Santhal Strikers for a substantial ₹14.7 lakh. The focus on local talent and its potential was clearly evident in this record-breaking acquisition, highlighting the league’s commitment to nurturing homegrown stars.
Key Acquisitions Across Franchises
Beyond the top two, several other franchises made significant investments to bolster their rosters. The Chota Nagpur Royals demonstrated their intent by securing the services of batsman Virat Singh for a noteworthy ₹13 lakh. Similarly, the Jamshedpur Steelers made strategic moves, bringing in Md. Kounain Quraishi for ₹12.5 lakh and adding the promising all-rounder Sahil Raj for ₹8.75 lakh. Their strategy aimed at striking a perfect balance between seasoned experience and burgeoning young talent.
The Dhanbad Diamonds focused on strengthening their bowling attack, signing pacer Sushant Mishra for ₹11 lakh and all-rounder Pankaj Kumar for ₹10.75 lakh. Meanwhile, the Ranchi Titans invested in key players, bringing in Shikhar Mohan for ₹11 lakh and Rajandeep Singh for ₹9 lakh. The auction also featured special icon-player categories, which commenced with a base price of ₹4 lakh, adding another layer of strategic decision-making for the team management.
A New Chapter for Jharkhand Cricket
The launch of the Jharkhand T20 League has been met with widespread optimism by the state’s cricketing fraternity. JSCA President Ajay Nath Shah Deo enthusiastically welcomed the new league, describing it as a monumental stride forward for cricket within the state. He articulated that the tournament is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening the sport at its grassroots and professional levels, simultaneously fostering a myriad of new opportunities for local cricketers to excel.
Echoing these sentiments, JSCA Vice President Sanjay Pandey emphasized the invaluable platform the league would provide. He highlighted that the tournament would allow young and emerging cricketers to compete alongside experienced players, thereby gaining crucial exposure in a highly competitive environment. Both officials underscored the league’s potential to elevate the standard of cricket in Jharkhand and bring high-quality T20 action to fans across the region.
Team Squads: A Glimpse into the Line-ups
Here’s a detailed look at the squads assembled by each of the six franchises, showcasing the blend of talent ready to battle for the inaugural Jharkhand T20 League title:
Chota Nagpur Royals Squad:
- Virat Singh
- Md. Nazim Siddiqui
- Vikash Singh
- Kumar Kushagra
- Supriyo Chakraborty
- Pankaj Yadav
- Mohit Kumar
- Deepanshu Rawat
- Sonu Kumar Singh
- Varun Kumar Singh
- Ritwik Pathak
- Durgesh Kumar
- Chandan Mukhi
- Aryaman Lala
- Shresht Sagar
- Rahul Rajak
- Avinash Kumar
- Himanshu Dwivedi
Dhanbad Diamonds Squad:
- Sushant Mishra
- Pankaj Kumar
- Bal Krishna
- Atul Singh Surwar
- Ram Roshan Saran
- Bisesh Dutta
- Vikash Kumar Vishal
- Md. Shamshad
- Vivekanand Tiwari
- Aryaman Sen
- Aditya Singh
- Tanish Choubey
- Prabhat Kumar Yadav
- Meet Jain
- Himanshu Ranjan Kumar
- Abhishek Yadav
- Gaurav Singh
- Siddharth Sinha
Jamshedpur Steelers Squad:
- Md. Kounain Quraishi
- Sahil Raj
- Kumar Deobrat
- Anukul Roy
- Pratik Ranjan
- Niteen Kumar Pandey
- Ravi Sharma
- Harsh Rana
- Adarsh Giri
- Kumar Karan
- Sameer Sharma
- Siddhanth Raghuvanshi
- Aman Kumar
- Hritik Anant
- Manikant Mishra
- Anurag Singh Sengar
- Pranjal Kumar
- Jasraj Singh
Koylanchal Super Kings Squad:
- Robin Minz
- Shubh Sharma
- Utkarsh Singh
- Amit Kumar
- Harsh Raj
- Sharandeep Singh
- Yogesh Bhaskar
- Satyam Singh
- Rahul Prasad
- Sentu Kumar Yadav
- Aditya Jha
- Gunjan Yadav
- Lakshya
- Abhinav Sharan
- Junaid Ashraf
- Sunny Sachin Tiwary
- Sanjeev Chaturwedi
Ranchi Titans Squad:
- Shikhar Mohan
- Rajandeep Singh
- Shreshtha
- Jatin Pandey
- Saurabh Shekhar
- Ayush Bhardwaj
- Prince Murmu
- Aryan Hooda
- Yash Bhagat
- Ishan Om
- Kumar Ankit
- Sachin Yadav
- Om Singh
- Satya Setu
- Prem Kumar Chaurasiya
- Mukesh Kumar
- Yuvraj Singh
- Yuvraj Kumar
Santhal Strikers Squad:
- Ishan Kishan
- Arvind Kumar
- Sumit Kumar
- Anmol Raj
- Manishi
- Vivek Kumar
- Rayan Sapkota
- Ravi Yadav
- Pratyush Kumar
- Vikas Kumar
- Kumar Suraj
- Raunak Kumar
- Ojus Wardhan
- Ritesh Patel
- Vibhor Pandey
- Sadab Hussain
- Sanjeet Sharma
- Ashish Kumar
With the squads now finalized, all eyes turn to June 10, when the inaugural ball of the Jharkhand T20 League will be bowled. The tournament is set to be a spectacle of talent, strategy, and fierce competition, promising to deliver high-quality cricket and cement its place in India’s vibrant domestic cricket calendar.
