The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has invited bids for the right to operate a new franchise in the T20 Mumbai League, paving the way for the men’s competition to expand to nine teams.

The new franchise will represent Navi Mumbai, extending the league’s footprint beyond Mumbai and Thane, and potentially opening another avenue for cricketers from the MMR region.

The move comes less than two months after the completion of the fourth edition of the league in June. The season drew strong interest from spectators and produced competitive cricket, reinforcing the T20 Mumbai League’s position among India’s prominent franchise-based domestic T20 competitions.

The Navi Mumbai franchise will be the league’s first expansion since its inception, to feature nine teams, subject to the completion of the bidding process. League chairman Rajdip Gupta, during the 2026 edition, had stressed that the league will expand its footprint ahead of the 2027 edition.

Interested parties can collect the bid documents from the MCA office at the Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, Churchgate, between August 10 and 25. The documents will be available between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on working days.

The bid documents will be issued against a non-refundable fee of ₹2.5 lakh, payable through a Demand Draft in favour of the Mumbai Cricket Association. Prospective bidders can also make the payment through bank transfer using the account details specified in the tender notice available on the MCA’s official website.

Ayaz Khan rose to the occasion when it mattered, his composed yet authoritative knock ensuring MSC Maratha Royals kept its title defence alive by sealing a place in the T20 Mumbai semifinals at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.

Ayaz’s superb 87 (49b, 7×4, 3×6) helped Royals chase down 169 against ARCS Andheri and set up a last-four showdown against North Mumbai Panthers on Thursday.

Even before the final league fixture began, the equation had become crystal clear. With SoBo Mumbai Falcons defeating table-topper Panthers earlier in the day, Siddhesh Lad’s Royals needed only a victory to advance.

Already assured of a semifinal berth, Andheri opted to rest captain Shivam Dube, placing the responsibility of steering the innings on Musheer Khan’s shoulders.

The youngster responded impressively. Musheer crafted a fluent 62 off 36 deliveries, timing the ball sweetly and ensuring the scoreboard continued to move despite wickets falling at regular intervals.

However, a disciplined Royals attack denied Andheri the late flourish it desperately sought, restricting the innings to 168 at the end of the allotted overs.

The chase suffered an early setback when opener Sahil Jadhav departed off the very first ball. Ayaz, though, remained unfazed. Walking in at No. 3 under considerable pressure, the stylish left-hander built the innings methodically before accelerating at the right moments.

Equally adept at finding gaps and clearing the ropes, Ayaz ensured Royals never found themselves behind the required rate. By the time he departed in the 18th over, the outcome was a mere formality.

The scores: ARCS Andheri 168 in 20 overs (Musheer Khan 62, Tushar Deshpande 2/39, Irfan Umair 2/27, Atharva Bhosale 2/35, Maxwell Swaminathan 2/45, Aditya Dhumal 2/14) lost to MSC Maratha Royals 170/5 in 18.2 overs (Ayaz Khan 87, Prasoon Singh 3/26).

North Mumbai Panthers 157 in 19.2 overs (Anish Chaudhery 32, Abhigyan Kundu 45, Yash Dicholkar 2/17, Vedant Gore 2/33, Mayuresh Tandel 4/30) lost to SoBo Mumbai Falcons 158/3 in 18.1 overs (Ishan Mulchandani 65, Gautam Waghela 45 n.o.).

Semifinal line-up: ARCS Andheri vs Aakash Tigers MWS (2 p.m.); North Mumbai Panthers vs MSC Maratha Royals (7 p.m.).

Women’s League: Thane Sky Risers 113/9 in 20 overs (Vrushali Bhagat 32, Manali Dakshini 2/20, Batul Pereira 2/22) lost to Aakash Tigers MWS 117/2 in 15 overs (Sanika Chalke 74 n.o., Fatima Jaffer 35 n.o., Kashish Nirmal 2/32).

Divyaansh Saxena equalled Hardik Tamore’s fastest fifty record in T20 Mumbai history with a breathtaking 17-ball half-century before remaining unbeaten on 88 (39b, 12×4, 4×6) as ARCS Andheri surged to the top of the standings with a crushing nine-wicket win over Eagle Thane Strikers at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.

Chasing a meagre target of 130, Andheri was never in trouble. Southpaw Saxena tore into the bowling from the outset, peppering boundaries off Strikers captain Shardul Thakur and speedster Onkar Tarmale at will.

With Saxena dictating terms, Ayush Jethwa played the supporting role effectively, rotating strike and allowing his opening partner complete freedom. By the time Jethwa departed, the contest had effectively ended, with Saxena sealing victory with 50 deliveries remaining.

Earlier, it was captain Shivam Dube and his bowlers who laid the platform for Andheri. After opting to bat, the Strikers never recovered from an underwhelming PowerPlay despite brief resistance from Sairaj Patil (34) and wicketkeeper Eknath Kerkar (27), whose 41-run partnership temporarily steadied the innings.

Off-spinner Prasoon Singh starred with three wickets, while Dube and Ajay Mishra claimed two wickets each as Strikers were bowled out for 129. The collapse was emphatic: Andheri conceded just 26 runs and took five wickets across the final four overs.

Meanwhile, Thursday night saw Bandra Blasters register its first win of the season with a four-wicket victory over Triumph Knights Mumbai North East. India captain Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles continued as he managed only four runs off six deliveries, while rival skipper Suved Parkar’s second consecutive fifty helped Blasters chase down 179 comfortably.

The scores: Eagle Thane Strikers 129 in 20 overs (Sairaj Patil 34, Eknath Kerkar 27, Prasoon Singh 3/22, Ajay Mishra 2/13, Shivam Dube 2/19) lost to ARCS Andheri 130/1 in 11.4 overs (Divyaansh Saxena 88 n.o.).

Triumph Knight Mumbai North East 178/8 in 20 overs (Nutan Goel 40, Parikshit Valsangkar 36 n.o., Jayesh Pokhare 31 n.o., Sagar Chhabria 3/25, Dhrumil Matkar 2/31) lost to Bandra Blasters 179/6 in 19.3 overs (Suved Parkar 53, Jay Jain 49 n.o., Sagar Mishra 2/21).

Suved Parkar produced a captain’s innings, equalling the highest individual score in T20 Mumbai history with a scintillating 110 (54b, 10×4, 7×6). Yet, even that wasn’t enough as North Mumbai Panthers scripted another extraordinary chase before holding its nerve in a dramatic Super Over to register a second successive victory against Bandra Blasters.

Chasing a daunting 229 at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, Panthers once again found inspiration through opener Hardik Tamore, whose second consecutive half-century — 83 (39b, 10×4, 4×6) — ensured the chase never drifted away. His 67-run partnership with Abhigyan Kundu, who contributed 39 (24b, 3×4, 1×6), kept Panthers firmly in contention through the middle overs.

Tanush Kotian then played the finishing act to perfection with 32 n.o. (14b, 2×4, 2×6), while Vaibhav Mali unleashed 32 (14b, 2×4, 2×6) as Panthers remarkably drew level at 228.

Even after Mali’s dismissal in the penultimate over, the chase remained alive courtesy left-arm spinner Rahul Sawant, whose consecutive pull shots — a boundary and a six off Royston Dias — shifted momentum dramatically.

Needing 14 off the final four deliveries, Kotian responded with characteristic composure, reducing the equation to three off the final ball. When Dhanit Raut’s last delivery was driven over covers for a couple, the game headed into a Super Over.

Mali once again turned aggressor, taking on Atif Attarwala’s left-arm pace with two sixes and a boundary to set a challenging target. Seasoned seamer Mohit Avasthi then produced a near-flawless Super Over, sealing a memorable victory for the Ajinkya Rahane-led Panthers.

Earlier in the afternoon, Parkar’s conventional strokemaking set Blasters on course for a a gargantuan total. But once he perished in the 15th over after scoring 110 — the same as Jay Bista in 2019, the Blasters couldn’t pile on 250. Those last five overs, in the end, turned out to be the difference.

The scores: Bandra Blasters 228/5 in 20 overs (Suved Parkar 110, Prateek Ravishankar 33, Pratik Mishra 3/38) tied with North Mumbai Panthers 228/8 in 20 overs (Hardik Tamore 83, Abhigyan Kundu 39, Tanush Kotian 32 n.o., Vaibhav Mali 32, Sagar Chhabria 3/9, Dhrumil Matkar 3/32).

Super Over: North Mumbai Panthers 20/1 bt Bandra Blasters 7 for no loss.

SoBo Mumbai Falcons 126 in 18.2 overs (Aditya Tare 59, Shivam Dube 3/17, Ajay Mishra 3/27, Deepak Shetty 2/32) lost to ARCS Andheri 127/5 in 14 overs (Divyaansh Saxena 50).

Women’s League: Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs 113/9 in 20 overs (Sayali Satghare 4/29, Swara Jadhav 3/19) lost to SoBo Mumbai Falcons 117/3 in 15.5 overs (Sarika Koli 33 n.o., Sayali Satghare 30 n.o.).

Moments after Rajasthan Royals sealed the final Indian Premier League playoffs berth with a convincing win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May24, 2026) night, head coach Kumar Sangakkara passionately defended captain Riyan Parag, insisting the young allrounder remains the “absolute right guy” to lead the franchise despite a turbulent IPL 2026 season.

Parag’s maiden full season as captain has been marked by inconsistent batting returns, recurring fitness concerns and off-field scrutiny, including repeated social media criticism following the vaping incident in the dressing room during a match. Yet, Sangakkara made it clear that the Royals management remains firmly invested in the 24-year-old.

“I have seen very few players who have been criticised like Riyan has been for about seven years now,” Sangakkara said. “Ever since I came to the franchise, there have always been people who liked Riyan, but there are a lot who didn’t really like him, especially on social media. But that’s the reality of the modern game.”

The former Sri Lankan captain revealed that Rajasthan never doubted Parag’s leadership credentials when handing him the captaincy before the season.

“When we decided to offer Riyan the captaincy, he was the absolute right guy to lead this franchise. I have no doubt in my mind,” Sangakkara said.

Despite battling physical niggles through parts of the campaign and enduring fluctuating form with the bat, Parag continued to front up for the Royals during their successful late push towards qualification. Sangakkara particularly praised the batter’s resilience and commitment.

“The confidence with which he drives himself, sometimes almost on one foot to come and play, there is a huge amount of positivity,” Sangakkara observed. “I think he has captained exceptionally well.”

Sangakkara also stressed that Parag commands complete respect inside the dressing room, irrespective of outside noise.

“Sometimes what you see on the outside is not Riyan Parag,” he said. “He is a lovely, soft, gentle, really determined, smart young man. He has learned a lot in the last few years and he will continue on that journey.”

Even before the final round of league-stage matches began, Sunday (May 25, 2026) afternoon’s fixture at the Wankhede Stadium had already emerged as the most consequential contest of the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) business end.

Of the five teams that were still in contention for the lone remaining playoffs spot, Rajasthan Royals is the only side with its fate firmly in its own hands.

Adding to the intrigue is the maiden appearance of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the Wankhede — that too in front of nearly 19,000 schoolchildren attending as part of Mumbai Indians owners’ Education and Sports For All initiative. For perhaps the first time at the venue, the Royals could find themselves enjoying overwhelming crowd support.

The equation for Rajasthan Royals is straightforward: win and qualify. But the challenge is anything but simple.

The Royals management will anxiously monitor the fitness of captain Riyan Parag and veteran allrounder Ravindra Jadeja. Yet, even in their absence, stand-in skipper Yashasvi Jaiswal marshalled the side impressively before Sooryavanshi’s explosive innings against Lucknow Super Giants earlier this week kept RR’s campaign alive.

Rajasthan will once again bank on the youthful duo of Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal — returning to his alma mater — while hoping Jofra Archer continues his fine rhythm with the ball.

But facing Mumbai Indians with nothing to lose can often be a dangerous proposition. After an underwhelming season, the home side will be desperate to sign off on a winning note. It will be interesting to see if Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya — the duo that has had a lacklustre season — end it on a high.

Will Mumbai Indians play disruptor-in-chief? Or will Rajasthan Royals seal the playoffs berth and render the final league game in Kolkata irrelevant?

The road to the IPL 2026 playoffs may seem distant for Lucknow Super Giants, which sits at the bottom of the table.

However, bowling coach Bharat Arun believes all is not lost yet. “There is light at the end of the tunnel. For us, there’s no other way. Every game is a knockout for us right from here,” Arun said.

: For Lakshmi Shastri, the unveiling of the Ravi Shastri Stand at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (April 9, 2026) was not merely an honour bestowed on her son. It was a full-circle moment — one that brought back memories of train rides, packed stands, and the quiet pride of watching a young boy from Mumbai carve his place in Indian cricket.

“It means a lot to me. I feel so honoured to be present here. I would come to the Wankhade Stadium to watch him play, though I did not watch his six sixes that day (in 1985). And I never ever dreamt that one day I would stand before his stand that has been named after him,” Lakshmi told The Hindu moments after the ceremony, with her daughter-in-law Ritu and granddaughter Alekha patiently waiting for her. “This is with God’s grace, and I do believe Ravi’s devotion, dedication, most important, his self-belief that he will achieve what he dreamt of. So may he go from strength to strength, extremely proud of him.”

Her words carried the weight of decades. An ardent cricket follower since the 1960s, Lakshmi has been pivotal to pushing Ravi to the limits since his formative years. Yet, Thursday’s (April 9, 2026) honour had a special emotional pull, particularly because Dr. Jayadritha Shastri, Ravi’s father and one of his earliest supporters, was not present, having passed away in 2007.

He played for the Dadar Union Sports Club, one of the iconic cricket clubs in the home of Indian cricket. It was befitting then that Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain who in 1987 became the first man on the planet to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, has donated his Dadar Union cap along with his memorabilia to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for its unique museum.

“Dadar Union taught me so much about the fact that the game is bigger than the individual, that you do not take the game for granted, that you have to keep on giving back to the game,” Gavaskar said at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday (August 23, 2025) night.

But beyond displaying his affection for his alma mater, Gavaskar – whose statue with the 10,00th run celebration was also unveiled at the entrance of the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum – revealed the significance of the cap on display.

“That cap was worn on the day we beat Australia in 1981 (by 59 runs in the third Test) when Kapil (Dev) came in at Melbourne and took five wickets (5/28). He was unwell the previous day. He took painkilling injections and he came on to bowl,” Gavaskar recalled.

“It was a touch-and-go situation — I am superstitious, as you probably know by now — I had my Dadar Union cap, which was lucky. That is the reason I wore that cap that day — not the India cap — because they had to score some 60-80 runs and they had lost three wickets.”

Earlier in the evening, after his statue was unveiled along with Sharad Pawar’s at the entrance of the museum, Gavaskar remembered his childhood friends, late Milind Rege and late Hemant Waingankar, who have passed and dedicated the glorious moment to all the Mumbai cricketers who have played with and against him from gully cricket to international cricket.

His wife Marshneil, son Rohan, daughter-in-law Swati and grandchildren Reha and Vivaan were also in attendance along with former teammate Dilip Vengsarkar, whose statue will soon be erected in the Wankhede Stadium premises.

“I am actually at a loss for words because I am overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by this unique honour,” Gavaskar said. “It doesn’t happen to everybody that there is a statue just outside the museum where there is going to be so much more footfall to see the museum and every time you enter the museum to be able to see the statue, so that is something totally, really unique so I am overwhelmed.”

Gavaskar referred to the MCA – earlier Bombay Cricket Association – as his mother. “The Mumbai Cricket Association, I have said in the past, is like my mother, held my hand when I was beginning with cricket at the school’s level, playing for Bombay schools,” he said.

“Thereafter as well, for Ranji Trophy etc. It’s been absolutely just a privilege and an honour and a blessing to be able to play for Mumbai and I never ever dreamt that it would come to this.”