Tilak Varma Tops Telangana T20 League Auction at ₹33 Lakh; DGP Anand’s Son Chama Milind Bags ₹17 Lakh Deal
India pacer Mohammed Siraj was snapped up by Warangal Warriors for ₹14 lakh, while all-rounder Tanay Thyagarajan was acquired by Pranava Ranga Reddy Risers for ₹11 lakh.
India batter Tilak Varma emerged as the most sought-after player in the inaugural Telangana T20 League auction, securing a record ₹33 lakh contract with Medak Falcons.
Hyderabad: India batter Tilak Varma emerged as the most sought-after player in the inaugural Telangana’s TG20 League auction, securing a record ₹33 lakh contract with Medak Falcons as franchises splurged on proven match-winners ahead of the state’s flagship domestic T20 tournament.
The player auction, conducted at Ramoji Film City on Sunday, saw intense bidding among the league’s eight franchises, each operating with a team purse of ₹60 lakh. Franchises showed a clear preference for all-rounders and experienced domestic performers capable of contributing in multiple facets of the game.
India pacer Mohammed Siraj was snapped up by Warangal Warriors for ₹14 lakh, while left-arm seamer Chama Milind, son of Telangana DGP CV Anand, attracted a winning bid of ₹17 lakh from Khammam Aces. All-rounder Tanay Thyagarajan was acquired by Pranava Ranga Reddy Risers for ₹11 lakh.
Milind, a seasoned Hyderabad cricketer, entered the auction with a base price of ₹5 lakh and drew considerable interest from multiple franchises before Khammam Aces secured his services. The left-arm pacer has represented Hyderabad across domestic formats and has previously been associated with IPL franchises including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Organised by the Hyderabad Cricket Association, the Telangana T20 League aims to create a competitive platform for identifying and nurturing cricketing talent from districts across the state. The tournament will feature eight franchise teams competing over 32 matches during a 21-day season at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.
More than 1,300 players registered for the inaugural auction. In addition to marquee names such as Tilak Varma and Mohammed Siraj, several established domestic cricketers were part of the player pool, reflecting the growing stature of the league.
The tournament has also introduced a strong grassroots focus. Teams are required to include players from multiple districts and field at least two district-level cricketers in their playing XI, ensuring opportunities for emerging talent alongside established stars.
With Tilak Varma commanding the highest bid and several high-profile players finding new franchises, the inaugural Telangana T20 League has generated considerable excitement and is expected to become an important pathway for aspiring cricketers from across Telangana.
