Bengaluru, July 29
In a landmark moment for women's cricket in Karnataka, the auction for the inaugural Maharani Trophy KSCA T20 was held at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday.
The five franchises - Bengaluru Blasters, Hubli Tigers, Mangaluru Dragons, Mysore Warriors, and Shivamogga Lioness - went head‑to‑head in an intense bidding war to assemble strong squads for the first-ever edition of the tournament, scheduled to begin on August 4 at the Alur Grounds. The final will be played on August 10 at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
With a purse of ₹10 lakh each, each franchise successfully built a formidable 16‑member squad. Bengaluru Blasters' Niki Prasad emerged as the most expensive player of the day, fetching ₹3.70 lakh, followed by Shubha Satheesh, secured by Mysore Warriors for ₹3.10 lakh, and Mithila Vinod, signed by Shivamogga Lioness for ₹3.00 lakh.
Bengaluru Blasters shaped their squad around the marquee signing of Niki Prasad for ₹3.70 lakh. They further added depth with Aditi Rajesh (₹1.50 lakh) and Kandikuppa Kashvi (₹1.55 lakh), while bolstering their squad with Chandasi Krishnamurthy (₹70,000) and Pushpa Kiresur (₹40,000).
Hubli Tigers placed their faith in BG Tejashwini, investing ₹1.50 lakh, and added an experienced Bhavika Reddy (₹1.10 lakh) to the mix soon after. They also roped in stalwarts Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shreya Chavan, and Krishika Reddy for ₹1.00 lakh each.
Mangaluru Dragons made a strong start to the Auction by acquiring Liyanka Shetty for ₹2.25 lakh, alongside impactful signings like Prathyoosha Kumar (₹1.80 lakh) and Inchara CU (₹1.55 lakh). Karnika Karthick (₹1.25 lakh) and Saloni P (₹85,000) added balance to their squad.
Mysore Warriors stood out with the acquisition of Shubha Satheesh for ₹3.10 lakh, one of the day's biggest buys. They further strengthened their lineup with Prakruthi NG (₹1.20 lakh) and Pooja Kumari M (₹1.05 lakh), and, while adding promising talent in Sahana S Pawar (₹1.00 lakh) and Rachitha Hatwar (₹85,000).
Shivamogga Lioness battled fiercely for the marquee pick of Mithila Vinod for ₹3.00 lakh. They further reinforced their ranks with Lavanya Chalana (₹1.45 lakh), Roshini Kiran (₹1.30 lakh), and Soumya Verma (₹1.05 lakh), while Srinithi P Rai rounded off their top signings at ₹80,000.
With high‑profile signings and competitive balance across the squads, the stage is now set for the Maharani Trophy KSCA T20 to deliver an exciting debut season, showcasing the best of women's cricket talent in Karnataka.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a cricket coach in Mysore, I'm thrilled to see Prakruthi NG getting ₹1.20 lakh! She's been training hard for years. This league will change women's cricket landscape in Karnataka. Just wish there was more coverage in regional media...
₹3.70 lakh for Niki Prasad seems too high for a domestic T20 league no? Hope the teams have sustainable financial models. But nevertheless, great initiative by KSCA! Will definitely take my daughters to watch the matches ðŸ
So proud to see Mangaluru Dragons representing coastal Karnataka! Liyanka Shetty deserves every penny of that ₹2.25 lakh bid. Our girls from smaller towns finally getting the platform they deserve 💪 #WomenInCricket
Interesting to see Karnataka taking lead in women's cricket development. The franchise model with regional teams is smart - creates local fan connect. Hope other states follow suit. Any plans for live streaming?
As a former state player, I'm emotional seeing this day come! But KSCA should ensure equal pay for support staff too - not just players. The coaches, physios work equally hard behind the scenes.
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