Srinagar, Dec 10 (KNS) : The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s first tennis-ball T10 cricket tournament, delivered a landmark Season 3 Player Auction in Mumbai on Tuesday, with eight franchises spending nearly ?10 crore to sign 144 players in a high-voltage bidding war.
In a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir, two young cricketers—Shahid Mir from Tangmarg and Majid Yousuf Sheikh from Qazigund—secured ?3 lakh contracts each. Mir was picked by Bengaluru Strikers, while Sheikh was signed by Ahmedabad Lions for the upcoming season.
The auction’s biggest highlight was Vijay Pawle, who fetched ?32.50 lakh, becoming the highest-ever buy in ISPL history. He was acquired by defending champions Majhi Mumbai, returning to the franchise he guided to title glory last season. Ketan Mhatre was retained by Chennai Singams using the RTM card for ?26.40 lakh, making him the second-costliest player of the day.
This season marks a major expansion for the league, with two new teams—Ahmedabad Lions and Delhi Superheros—joining the roster, taking the total to eight franchises. Season 3 is scheduled to take place from January 9 to February 6, 2026, at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat. Tickets will soon be available on BookMyShow.
The auction reflected ISPL’s growing impact, with 408 players from 101 cities going under the hammer. The event witnessed the presence of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and several celebrity team owners, including Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan, Suriya, Ram Charan, and others.
The proceedings began with the launch of ‘Street Star’, a humanoid created to enhance fan engagement during Season 3.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
In the U-19 category, Ankit Yadav topped the charts, bought by Tiigers of Kolkata for ?6.50 lakh. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Rudra Patil became the youngest pick of Season 3 after being signed by Srinagar Ke Veer at his base price of ?3 lakh.
Sharing his thoughts, Sachin Tendulkar said, “My advice to all ISPL players is simple—be yourself. Improve every day, express yourself, and enjoy the game. Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”
Ashish Shelar, another Core Committee Member, said the league was created to give young talent a professional platform. “It is encouraging to see lakhs of youngsters embracing ISPL, and the league’s impact is already visible,” he added.
Minal Amol Kale noted that the auction continues to be a career-changing moment for many. “We hope every selected player uses this opportunity to move closer to their dreams,” she said.
ISPL Commissioner Suraj Samat described this year’s auction as one of the most competitive to date. “Clear strategies, Googly Power, RTM, and retentions made the event dynamic. We expect a high-quality season ahead,” he said.
With stars, rising youth talent, and expanded competition, ISPL Season 3 is set to deliver its most thrilling edition yet. The league has also announced that the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will drive home a Porsche 911, one of the most prestigious awards in Indian sport.