The highly anticipated Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 auction took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, featuring a pool of 240 talented cricketers. As teams geared up for the third edition of the tournament, set to commence on August 15th, the auction spotlight fell on Chethan LR, who emerged as the most expensive player. He was secured by the Bengaluru Blasters with a staggering bid of 8.2 lakhs. The auction witnessed significant bidding wars for experienced and budding talents, including notable acquisitions of IPL and state-level players.

Emerging talents and rising stars

The auction also highlighted several young and emerging talents. Among them was 18-year-old Samit Dravid, son of the legendary Rahul Dravid, who was secured by the Mysore Warriors for 0.5 lakhs. The Mysore Warriors also made strategic bids for Luvnith Sisodia, Mohd. Taha, and Lavish Kaushal, each commanding impressive sums beyond their base prices. Sisodia, one of the top scorers last season, was acquired by the Gulbarga Mystics for 7.2 lakhs, while Mohd Taha returned to the Hubli Tigers with a price tag of 6.6 lakhs.

In Category B, focusing on senior state players, the 23-year-old speedster Vidyadhar Patil was in high demand, ultimately secured by the Mysore Warriors for 6.4 lakhs. Goutham Mishra joined the Mysore Warriors for 2 lakhs, and the prolific Smaran R returned to the Gulbarga Mystics for 3.15 lakhs. The Shivamogga Lions made significant moves in Category C, acquiring bowling all-rounder Avinash D for 5.4 lakhs and Rajvir Wadhwa for 2.2 lakhs.

Top bids and notable acquisitions

Chethan LR’s acquisition was a major highlight, as the Bengaluru Blasters invested heavily in him following his impressive performances in previous seasons. Mayank Agarwal, the captain of Bengaluru Blasters, expressed excitement about Chethan’s addition, saying, “We are very happy to have Chethan LR as a part of our squad. He was a treasured find for the Bengaluru Blasters during the first season of the Maharaja Trophy, and I am looking forward to playing with him this season.”

In Category A, which features Indian and IPL players, Shreyas Gopal’s versatile skills were highly valued, fetching 7.6 lakhs from the Mangaluru Dragons, making him the most expensive purchase within the category. The Mysore Warriors made strategic moves by securing experienced all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for 7.4 lakhs, southpaw all-rounder J Suchith for 4.8 lakhs, and pacer Prasidh Krishna, who is not at full fitness, for 1 lakh. Other significant bids included KC Cariappa, acquired by the Hubli Tigers for 4.2 lakhs, and Praveen Dubey, who went to the Gulbarga Mystics for 6.8 lakhs. Despite recovering from an injury, wicketkeeper-batsman Sharath BR was snapped up by the Gulbarga Mystics for 1 lakh.

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The auction concluded with teams strategically building their rosters, setting the stage for an exciting tournament. As the competition approaches, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing both seasoned players and emerging talents showcasing their skills on the field.