Karun emerges costliest buy at Maharaja Trophy auction

Karun Nair emerged the biggest buy even as K.L. Rahul went unsold at the 2026 Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament player auction here on Friday.

Karun was bagged by Coastal Kings Mangaluru for ₹18 lakh while R. Smaran, who has scored in excess of 350 runs in each of the last two editions, was acquired by Shivamogga Yodhas for ₹15.75 lakh.

Rahul’s non-selection was more or less expected, for he is part of the India squad that is playing Afghanistan at home. He is also likely to be in the party that will tour England for a white-ball series in July.

Fellow India teammates Devdutt Padikkal and Prasidh Krishna received bids worth ₹2.6 lakh each from Mysuru Warriors, again dictated by their potential National-team commitments.

L.R. Chethan, a sought-after cricketer in the shortest format, will also join the Warriors, for ₹11.5 lakh, and he will have for company V. Vyshak (₹8.25 lakh).

Elsewhere, Hubli Tigers bought Abhinav Manohar for ₹13.50 lakh and Mayank Agarwal for ₹11.5 lakh.

Gulbarga Mystics snapped up Manish Pandey for ₹12.75 lakh and Macneil Noronha — recently called up by Chennai Super Kings as a replacement player — for ₹12.25 lakh.

Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters’ costliest buy was all-rounder Shubhang Hegde (₹11 lakh).

The tournament will be held from June 20 to July 12.