Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Auction Highlights: Devdutt Padikkal Fetches Highest Bid Of 13.20 Lakhs

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Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Auction AS IT HAPPENED: The Maharaja Trophy T20 2025 Auction concluded with all six teams assembling strong 18-member squads. Devdutt Padikkal emerged as the most expensive player, bought by Hubli Tigers for ₹13.20 lakhs. His teammate Abhinav Manohar was also picked for ₹12.20 lakhs, making Hubli the highest-spending side on star power.

Mysore Warriors, the defending champions, snapped up Manish Pandey for ₹12.20 lakhs, while Vidwath Kaverappa was bagged by Shivamogga Lions for ₹10.80 lakhs. Vidyadhar Patil was another top buy, joining Bengaluru Blasters for ₹8.40 lakhs. Now, all eyes shift to the tournament starting August 11 at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

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The announcement precedes the upcoming player auction on July 15, where franchises will finalize their squads consisting of 16 to 18 players, not including the two mandatory catchment picks. This year's auction is expected to be intense, with several prominent names from Karnataka cricket-Manish Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinav Manohar, and Chethan LR-drawing plenty of attention.

The six franchises participating in the 2025 edition are:

• Mysore Warriors

• Bengaluru Blasters

• Hubli Tigers

• Gulbarga Mystics

• Shivamogga Lions

• Mangaluru Dragons

Each team has retained four players and heads into the auction with a purse of ₹50 lakhs. The remaining purse for each team is as follows:

• Hubli Tigers: ₹41.50 lakhs (highest)

• Mangaluru Dragons: ₹37.70 lakhs

• Mysore Warriors: ₹36.50 lakhs

• Shivamogga Lions: ₹30.80 lakhs

• Bengaluru Blasters: ₹28.40 lakhs

• Gulbarga Mystics: ₹24.05 lakhs (lowest)

Ahead of the 2025 season, KSCA has released the player auction categories, dividing them into four groups based on experience and past performance.

Category A features India and IPL players like Manish Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinav Manohar (502 runs last season), Shreyas Gopal, and K Gowtham (14 wickets for Mysore Warriors).

Category B includes top domestic performers such as Chethan LR (last season's costliest buy at ₹8.60 lakh, 429 runs), Vidyadhar Patil (16 wickets), KV Siddharth, and Nikin Jose.

Category C is reserved for junior state players, led by Kumar LR (17 wickets), Samarth Nagaraj (India U19), Samit Dravid, Harshil Dharmani, and Melu Kranthi Kumar (14 wickets).

Category D consists of all other KSCA-registered players, including Lavish Kaushal (16 wickets last season).

Even without the presence of spectators, the tournament is expected to deliver high-quality cricket and serve as a key platform for Karnataka's emerging talent. With a mix of experience and youth, the 2025 Maharaja Trophy promises to be a showcase of skill, strategy, and excitement.