Lucknow: With preparations for the third edition of the Uttar Pradesh T20 (UPT-20) League nearing completion, the first mini auction is scheduled to take place in the state capital on June 18, 2025. The high-stakes auction will be monitored by BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, adding prestige and transparency to the process.
In the previous mega auction, 91 out of 171 players were picked by six franchise teams. This year, all six franchises have already retained their core players and are now eager to fill the gaps with fresh talent from the released pool.
Retained Stars by Franchises:
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Meerut Mavericks have retained the league’s top scorer Swastik Chikara and leading wicket-taker Zeeshan Ansari, along with Rinku Singh, Rituraj Sharma, Yash, Madhav Kaushik, Akshay, Divyansh, Rajat, Ritik, Vijay, and Vishal.
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Kashi Rudras have stuck with their captain Karan Sharma, along with Shivam Mavi, Shiv, Sunil, Yashovardhan, Arnav Balian, and Amar Chaudhary.
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Kanpur Superstars have picked Mohsin Khan, Sameer Rizvi, Aqib Khan, Vineet Panwar, Shaurya Singh, Adarsh Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shubham Mishra, Pankaj Kumar, and Abhishek Pandey.
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Lucknow Falcons will continue with ace pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, supported by Vipraj Nigam, Aradhya Yadav, Abhinandan Singh, Samarth Singh, Priyam Garg, Akshu Bajwa, Krityagya Singh, Sameer Chaudhary, Kishan Kumar Singh, Parv Singh, and Pranjal Saini.
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Gorakhpur Lions have kept Dhruv Jurel, Yash Dayal, Aryan Juyal, Akshdeep Nath, Shivam Sharma, Abdul Rehman, Vijay Yadav, Ankit Chaudhary, Rohit Dwivedi, Hardeep Singh, Vishal Nishad, and Siddharth Yadav.
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Noida Kings have retained Mohammad Aman, Mohammad Shareem, Kavya Tewatia, Kunal Tyagi, Naman Tiwari, Prashant Veer, Aditya Sharma, Ajay Kumar, and Rahul Rajpal.
Big Numbers and Bigger Hopes
Last season, Bhuvneshwar Kumar emerged as the league’s most expensive player, bought by Lucknow Falcons for ₹30.25 lakh. His participation brought significant star power to the league and showcased the tournament’s rising profile.
With 34 matches scheduled in the upcoming season, the UPT-20 League is seen as a prime platform for emerging cricketers to shine in front of IPL talent scouts. The league’s increasing competitiveness and visibility are turning it into a vital grooming ground for future national stars.
The auction and the league’s upcoming edition come at a time when Uttar Pradesh cricketers are gaining national and international recognition—a trend seen in the recently concluded 18th edition of the IPL, where half a dozen UP players impressed with standout performances.
As the UPT-20 League gathers momentum, cricket lovers across the state eagerly await the new season, which promises high-octane action, rising stars, and renewed enthusiasm for the gentleman’s game in the heartland of India.
