Robin Minz outshines Ishan Kishan in historic JT-20 Auction
PNS
Jamshedpur
The inaugural auction of the Jharkhand T-20 League (JT-20), organized by the Jharkhand State Cricket Association on the lines of the Indian Premier League (IPL), produced several surprises and dramatic moments on Saturday, with emerging tribal cricket star Robin Minz eclipsing international cricketer Ishan Kishan in the bidding war.
Held at a city hotel on NH-33, the auction attracted intense interest as six franchises battled to secure the state’s top cricketing talent ahead of the league’s inaugural season.
The biggest headline of the day belonged to Robin Minz, who was snapped up by the Koyalanchal Super Kings for a record ₹15.25 lakh. The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman became the most expensive player of the auction, reflecting the franchise’s confidence in his immense potential.
In contrast, Indian team star Ishan Kishan was acquired by the Santhal Strikers for approximately ₹6.25 lakh, close to his base price, leaving many cricket enthusiasts surprised.
The auction, conducted by renowned sports presenter and auctioneer Charu Sharma, highlighted the growing demand for local and emerging players from Jharkhand.
The Chota Nagpur Royals secured star batsman Virat Singh for ₹13 lakh, while the Jamshedpur Steelers strengthened their squad by signing Mohammad Kaunain Qureshi for ₹12.50 lakh.
Several young and relatively unknown domestic cricketers were also picked at the base price of ₹50,000, offering them a valuable opportunity to showcase their talent on a larger platform.
Perhaps the most shocking development of the auction was the fate of wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Kushagra. Despite his IPL experience and reputation as a powerful hitter, no franchise placed a bid for him.
His failure to attract buyers was widely regarded as the biggest upset of the JT-20 auction and became one of the most talked-about moments of the event.
JSCA Secretary Saurabh Tiwary described the launch of the league and the successful completion of the auction as a landmark moment for cricket in Jharkhand.
He said the tournament would provide a significant platform for talented cricketers from both rural and urban areas of the state to showcase their abilities before national and international selectors.
The six participating teams are: Ranchi Titans, Jamshedpur Steelers, Chota Nagpur Royals, Koyalanchal Super Kings, Dhanbad Diamonds and Santhal Strikers.
The tournament is scheduled to commence on June 15, with all six teams set to compete for the coveted JT-20 championship trophy in what promises to be a new chapter in Jharkhand cricket.
