Ashutosh Sharma bags top bid in MPL auction:Chambal Ghariyals acquire Avesh Khan for ₹8.20 lakh despite ₹9.75 crore IPL deal

The auction for the Madhya Pradesh Premier League (MPL) 2026, held for the first time in Indore, delivered several surprises. While players who command crores in the Indian Premier League (IPL) were sold for lakhs here, a number of young players stole the spotlight. Fast bowler Avesh Khan from Indore attracted significant attention but was picked by Chambal Ghariyals for ₹8.20 lakh. Despite earning ₹9.75 crore in the IPL, expectations of a higher bid could not materialise due to budget constraints. Ashutosh Sharma becomes costliest player The highest bid in the auction was placed on Ashutosh Sharma. Starting from a base price of ₹3 lakh, his value surged to ₹15 lakh, with Malwa Stallions securing him. Ashutosh, who represents Railways in domestic cricket, is also playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026 for ₹3.80 crore. Teams focus on youth and All-rounders Franchises focused heavily on young and all-round players to build balanced squads. Some notable signings include: Additionally, Madhav Tiwari, Kumar Kartikeya, and Saransh Jain were bought in the ₹9–10 lakh range. Why big players went for lower prices Each team in MPL had a limited purse of ₹50 lakh, which restricted bidding for big names. As a result, IPL stars who usually earn in crores were sold at comparatively lower prices. Key players with ₹3 lakh base price Avesh Khan The IPL 2026 player for Lucknow Super Giants was expected to fetch at least ₹12.50 lakh, but was eventually sold for ₹8.20 lakh. Ashutosh Sharma One of the most talked-about players in the auction, he is the only player representing a team outside Madhya Pradesh (Railways). With no dedicated Railways league, he was allowed to participate in MPL. A bidding war among franchises eventually saw him go to Malwa Stallions at the highest price. Notable performers and Signings Shivam Shukla The leg-spinner was bought by Indore Pink Panthers for ₹6.60 lakh. He picked 11 wickets in 7 matches in MPL 2025 and has taken 14 wickets in 9 matches in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He went unsold in IPL 2025 and 2026. Shivang Kumar Bought for ₹13 lakh by Bundelkhand Bulls, the all-rounder previously played for Bhopal Leopards. He was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹30 lakh in the IPL and scored 120 runs and took 5 wickets in MPL 2025. Madhav Tiwari Ujjain Falcons used the veto to buy him for ₹10.60 lakh. He was retained by Delhi Capitals for ₹40 lakh in IPL 2026 and has notable performances in junior cricket, including a hat-trick. Saransh Jain The all-rounder was bought by Royal Nimar Eagles for ₹9.60 lakh. He scored a century and took 7 wickets in just two matches in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season. He went unsold in the IPL despite a base price of ₹30 lakh. Kuldeep Sen The fast bowler, who plays for Rajasthan in the IPL, was picked by Bundelkhand Bulls for ₹7 lakh. He had been bought for ₹75 lakh in the IPL but did not get a chance to play last season. Aniket Verma Picked by Bhopal Leopards, he was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹30 lakh. He made a mark with a quick 43 off 18 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. Mangesh Yadav The highest wicket-taker in MPL 2025, he was bought by Gwalior Cheetahs. He was also picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹5.20 crore in IPL 2026. The Pandhurna pacer took 14 wickets in 6 matches last season. Auction summary A total of 244 players participated in the auction, out of which 165 were sold while 79 remained unsold. With the addition of three new franchises, the total number of teams has increased to 10. The third season of MPL will be played at Holkar Stadium in Indore.