Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter Siddhant Addhatrao and all-rounder Arjun Tendulkar have been cleared to take part in the auction for the T20 Mumbai League, even though they recently represented Pondicherry and Goa in the domestic season. The auction is set for May 2, with both players entering the bidding process under the league’s top base-price bracket.
Key takeaways
- Siddhant Addhatrao and Arjun Tendulkar have been given approval to enter the T20 Mumbai League auction pool.
- The auction for the tournament will be held on May 2.
- Both players have been listed with a base price of Rs 5 lakh, the highest category in the auction.
- MCA secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar said the usual one-year cooling-off rule will not apply because they did not participate in their state teams’ T20 leagues.
- Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube have been retained, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ajinkya Rahane are scheduled for Season 4 as Icon Players.
Auction eligibility and the cooling-off clause
Both Tendulkar and Addhatrao come into this Mumbai pathway through the Ranji Trophy route. Tendulkar, who is currently part of the Lucknow Super Giants setup in IPL 2026, has been representing Goa in domestic cricket over recent seasons. Addhatrao, meanwhile, made his Ranji Trophy debut in the 2024–25 campaign and played for Pondicherry last year.
Under MCA regulations, a local player returning to a Mumbai franchise pathway after featuring as a guest for another association typically must complete a mandatory one-year cooling-off period. However, MCA secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar clarified that this clause would not apply in their cases because they were not involved in the T20 competitions run by their respective state associations.
Khanvilkar explained that since they did not take part in the T20 league organised by their team associations, they remain eligible to compete in the T20 Mumbai League, aligning with the governing framework set by the BCCI. He also revealed that Addhatrao has already submitted the required No-Objection Certificate from the Cricket Association of Pondicherry.
While the broader cooling-off requirement was addressed, Khanvilkar added that Addhatrao will still complete a one-year cooling-off period before being able to play for Mumbai again, after which he will be free to represent Mumbai.
Retentions and Icon Player allocations for Season 4
Alongside the auction developments, several marquee names have been confirmed through retention and direct allocations. India captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube have all been retained by their respective teams for the upcoming edition.
Season 4 of the T20 Mumbai League is scheduled to begin on June 2, following the conclusion of IPL 2026 on May 31. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ajinkya Rahane—both linked with India’s Test setup—will feature in Season 4 as ‘Icon Players’. They had missed out on the previous tournament due to different reasons, but have now been granted direct spots.
Jaiswal has been allotted to Bandra Blasters. Despite the allocation, he is unlikely to play in the league because he is set to represent India in a one-off Test against Afghanistan on June 6 in New Chandigarh.
