T20 Mumbai League 2026: Star Retentions Set Stage for Explosive Season

With elite performers such as U-19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre, Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande and Sarfaraz Khan retained, and Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ajinkya Rahane allotted as Icon Players, franchises have secured a formidable core, underlining the league's growing stature and competitive edge.

Each of the eight teams retained three players, striking a strategic balance between international experience and emerging domestic talent as the league builds towards a high-octane fourth season.

Triumph Knights Mumbai North East have retained Suryakumar (Icon Player), who led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 title, alongside Ayush and Suryansh Shedge, while last season's runners-up SoBo Mumbai Falcons have secured Shreyas (Icon Player), Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harsh Aghav. Defending champions Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals have retained Tushar (Icon Player), with Siddhesh Lad and Rohan Raje forming a settled core.

Bandra Blasters have been allotted Yashasvi as their Icon Player, with Suved Parkar and Dhrumil Matkar also retained, while ARCS Andheri have retained Shivam (Icon Player) alongside Pragnesh Kanpillewar and Deepak Shetty. Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs have secured Sarfaraz (Icon Player), supported by Shams Mulani and Jay Bista.

North Mumbai Panthers have been allotted Icon Player Ajinkya, joined by retained players Abhigyan Kundu and Tanush Kotian, while Eagle Thane Strikers have placed their faith in Shardul (Icon Player) alongside Atharva Ankolekar and Sairaj Patil.

Several of the retained players are proven performers in the Indian Premier League and on the international stage, adding significant depth and star appeal to the competition.

MCA President Ajinkya Naik said, "This is a strong statement of intent from all franchises. The retention of some of the biggest names in Indian cricket reflects the strength and credibility the T20 Mumbai League has built over the years. At the same time, the opportunity for young and emerging players to share the dressing room with such established stars is invaluable for their growth and development. With such a high-quality core in place, we are set for a season that will raise the bar in terms of competitiveness and overall standard of cricket."

Rajdip Gupta, Chairman of the League Governing Council, added, "These retentions underline the strategic clarity of franchises and the depth of talent available in Mumbai. The mix of established stars and emerging players will make this one of the most exciting seasons yet. The retention strategy clearly reflects the intent of teams to build continuity while maintaining a high-performance environment."

Since its inception in 2018, the T20 Mumbai League has emerged as a key platform for talent identification and progression, with several players going on to represent Mumbai, feature in the Indian Premier League and earn national honours.

With the retention phase complete, focus now shifts to the upcoming player auction, as franchises look to build on their strong core and assemble squads capable of competing for the title in what promises to be a blockbuster 2026 season. The dates and details for the auction will be announced soon.

List of Retained Players:

Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs: Sarfaraz Khan (Icon Player), Shams Mulani and Jay Bista

ARCS Andheri: Shivam Dube (Icon Player), Pragnesh Kanpillewar and Deepak Shetty

Bandra Blasters: Yashasvi Jaiswal (Icon Player), Suved Parkar and Dhrumil Matkar

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals: Tushar Deshpande (Icon Player), Siddhesh Lad and Rohan Raje

North Mumbai Panthers: Ajinkya Rahane (Icon Player), Abhigyan Kundu and Tanush Kotian

SoBo Mumbai Falcons: Shreyas Iyer (Icon Player), Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harsh Aghav

Eagle Thane Strikers: Shardul Thakur (Icon Player), Atharva Ankolekar and Sairaj Patil

Triumph Knights Mumbai North East: Suryakumar Yadav (Icon Player), Ayush Mhatre and Suryansh Shedge

- IANS