Ashwanth biggest buy at TNPL auction

Ashwanth Valthapa was the costliest buy at the TNPL 2026 player auction when four-time champion Chepauk Super Gillies forked out ₹14.45 lakh.

The 25-year-old has played three ODIs and one T20I for the UAE but has shifted base to Chennai. A mystery spinner and left-handed batter, Ashwanth recently scored a century in the TNCA first division league for Swaraj CC.

The other high-profile buys were U. Mukilesh, whom Nellai Royal Kings acquired for ₹13.70 lakh, and former TN Ranji Player Siddarth Mahadevan (earlier known as Bharath Shankar), whom Madurai Panthers acquired for ₹8.70 lakh.

The Panthers also secured promising mystery spinner Rohan Ravi Bhutra for ₹55,000. The 24-year-old has been a net bowler for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and was previously part of Dindigul Dragons.

Meanwhile, two teams will compete under new names following changes in ownership. Madurai Panthers (formerly Siechem Madurai Panthers), which won the league in 2018, is now owned by Circle Base whose founder is US-based businessman Palani Gurusamy. He also owns stakes in English football club Leeds United, Scottish club Glasgow Rangers FC, and Major League Baseball franchise Texas Rangers.

Two-time champion Kovai Kings (Lyca Kovai Kings) is now owned by Chennai-based firm Nagal Comtech.

The TNCA president T.J. Srinivasa Raj expressed confidence that the tournament will be a successful one despite revenue constraints following the ban on real-money gaming sites, which had been one of the biggest backers of the teams in the last few years.

“We have reduced the auction purse to ensure the teams are not stretched financially. With YouTube as a streaming partner, we hope to reach a wider audience than before, which could help the league. On the cricketing side, we are focused on giving good pitches so that we have exciting games, and our players can go to the next level,” said Srinivasa Raj.

The TNPL will be held in Dindigul from August 4 to 15 before the action shifts to Chennai (August 18 to 28).