Agra: The UP T20 League Season 4 Mini Auction witnessed intense bidding as franchises invested heavily to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season, with experienced spinner Karn Sharma emerging as the most expensive player of the day.
Held at the Taj Convention Centre in Agra, the auction featured more than 250 players, as franchises competed to secure a mix of established performers and promising young talent.
Former India and Indian Premier League (IPL) star Karn Sharma attracted the highest bid after Kanpur Superstars signed the Meerut-based spinner for ₹23 lakh, well above his base price of ₹5 lakh.
The second-highest bid went to fast bowler Shubham Gautam from Bulandshahr, who was picked up by Noida Kings for ₹21.50 lakh after entering the auction with a base price of ₹2.50 lakh. A graduate of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association’s Speed Hunt programme, Gautam was among the standout performers at the auction. Gaur Gorakhpur Lions also made a significant investment by signing Meerut batter Shivam Chaudhary for ₹21 lakh.
Mohammad Sharim and Shiva Singh were among the other marquee signings, each fetching ₹17.50 lakh. Sharim joined Kashi Rudras, while Noida Kings added Shiva Singh to their squad.
The auction was conducted by renowned auctioneer Angad Bedi in the presence of BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, who praised the league’s growing role in developing young cricketers across the state. He said the success of the first three editions had demonstrated the tournament’s importance as a pathway for emerging players to progress to higher levels of the game.
UP T20 League Governing Council Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor said the league’s vision extends beyond competition, emphasising that it aims to identify and nurture talented cricketers from across Uttar Pradesh by providing them with a professional platform to showcase their abilities.
Among the other notable acquisitions, Lucknow Falcons signed Sameer Chaudhary for ₹11.75 lakh, while Noida Kings added Shoaib Siddiqui for ₹11.25 lakh. Kanpur Superstars further strengthened their squad by signing Yashovardhan Singh and Priyanshu Pandey for ₹6.60 lakh each. Kashi Rudras secured Vijay Yadav for ₹5.20 lakh, while several other players, including Anchit Yadav, Karan Chaudhary, Kunal Yadav and Vaibhav Chaudhary, were picked up at their respective base prices.
The auction was attended by several senior cricket administrators, including UPCA Secretary Prem Manohar Gupta, Treasurer Sachin Anand Shukla, Governing Council member Sanjeev Kumar Singh, UPCA Media Chairman Mohammad Faheem, Agra District Cricket Association President Sunil Joshan, and Vice-President Rajesh Sehgal.
The UP T20 League Season 4 is scheduled to be held from 14 August to 6 September 2026, with franchises now finalising their squads in preparation for another competitive edition of Uttar Pradesh’s premier domestic T20 tournament.
