Mumbai, 4th May 2026: Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals capped a decisive day at the T20 Mumbai auction, adding 10 new players to their ranks, as they continue to build a squad designed not just to compete, but to dominate. The franchise’s most significant investment of the day came in the form of Chinmay Sutar, secured at 9.5 Lakhs, underlining their intend to strengthen key areas with impact-driven talent.
Last season, Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals lifted the T20 Mumbai title. Today, at the auction tables, they took their first steps towards doing it again. Anchored by a retained core that formed the backbone of last season’s championship-winning side, the defending champions have assembled a squad that honours last season’s legacy while raising the ceiling for what’s possible in the one ahead.
Siddhesh Lad, Tushar Deshpande, and Rohan Raje headline the retained group. These three players embody the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals’ identity and carry the muscle memory of a title-winning campaign. As the captain last season, Lad is a proven “crisis man” with a dependable middle-order presence, who brings leadership stability and the ability to anchor innings under pressure. Deshpande, retained as the franchise’s Icon Player, continues to lead the bowling attack with his pace, wicket-taking ability, and expertise in high-pressure death overs. Raje adds invaluable all-round experience, combining composure with game-changing contributions across both departments.
The Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals’ auction strategy was a masterclass in role clarity. The additions of Chinmay Sutar and Ayaz Khan provide a major boost to the batting lineup, with Sutar’s reliability and match temperament at the top complemented by Khan’s explosive finishing, giving the side both stability and late-order firepower, creating a lineup that blends stability at the top with acceleration through the middle and finishing power at the back end. The presence of adaptable batters ensures flexibility across positions, enabling the team to respond dynamically to match situations. On the bowling front, Irfan Umair joins an attack anchored by Deshpande’s pace and Raje’s versatility, adding further depth and variation. With options that span powerplay breakthroughs to death-over execution, the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals have built a bowling unit capable of controlling games across phases.
Beyond individual roles, the team reflects a deliberate mix of emerging talent and seasoned performers. Youthful energy through Arjun Dani, Irfan Umair, Maxwell Swaminathan and Sahil Jadhav blends seamlessly with proven match-winners, reinforcing the franchise’s commitment to nurturing Mumbai’s cricketing ecosystem while remaining competitive at the highest level. What they’ve built is a well-balanced unit: Experience at the core, fresh energy in the mix, and the tactical flexibility to adapt to different game situations as they gear up to defend their title.
Siddhesh Lad returns as captain for a second consecutive season, stepping back in with unfinished business and a clear intent to drive the Royals towards glory. Mentor Abhishek Nayar continues to guide the side’s strategic direction, shaping its high-performance culture and long-term vision alongside Head Coach Amit Dani and the support staff.
Reflecting on the auction strategy, Dani emphasized “The focus at the auction was to build depth around the combinations that worked well for the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals last season.
In T20 cricket, flexibility across batting positions and bowling options makes a big difference, and we’ve added players who give us that adaptability.”
Franchise owner Kapil Baheti said, “For us, it’s always about building a squad that can perform consistently rather than reacting to one season at a time. Retaining the championship core and strengthening key areas was central to our approach this year.”
“One of the most exciting aspects of the T20 Mumbai League is the platform it creates for young players. At Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals, we are committed to supporting emerging players from the city and contributing meaningfully to the larger cricket ecosystem, while building a squad that competes strongly every season”, commented Franchise owner Alisha Baheti.
