In a very surprising occasion, Ishan Kishan was surpassed by as many players as teams bought players in the inaugural Jharkhand T20 League. After two years of exile from international cricket, Ishan shone in domestic cricket to make a comeback. He won the state's first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2025 and had a terrific domestic record.

 

Despite that, he managed just INR 6.25 lakh as Santhal Strikers. The auction happened at Wave International Hotel in Jamshedpur. Six franchise teams have registered, each having a purse of INR 50 lakhs. Each team had to buy at least 16 players and a maximum of 18 players

 

Young wicketkeeper-batter Robin Minz, who was with the Mumbai Indians, emerged as the most expensive player, fetching a record ₹15.25 lakh. Virat Singh became the second-costliest player, joining Chhota Nagpur Royals for ₹13 lakh. The same franchise also secured IPL-experienced Kumar Kushagra for ₹4 lakh.

 

Top Six Most Expensive Players Sold

 

Players Name	Price	Teams
Robin Minz	₹15.25 lakh	Koyalanchal Super Kings
Virat Singh	₹13.00 lakh	Chhota Nagpur Royals
Mohd. Kounain Qureshi	₹12.50 lakh	Jamshedpur Steelers
Sushant Mishra	₹11.00 lakh	Dhanbad Diamonds
Shikhar Mohan	₹11.00 lakh	Ranchi Titans
Pankaj Kumar	₹10.75 lakh	Dhanbad Diamonds

 

Why was Ishan Kishan sold so low in the Jharkhand T20 League?

 

The primary reason behind Ishan Kishan's lower price tag is tournament availability. Franchises expected Kishan to miss a significant portion of the league due to international commitments.

 

Conversely, uncapped powerhouse Robin Minz—often called "Jharkhand's Gayle" for his explosive left-handed batting—is fully available for the entire season.

 

Overview of Jharakhand T20 League

 

A total of 275 players entered the auction pool, with 108 players successfully drafted across the six teams. In a surprising turn of events, Gujarat Titans' IPL player Kumar Kushagra went completely unsold during the initial rounds before being picked up at his base price of ₹4 lakh.

 

The Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) hosted its first-ever player auction in Jamshedpur on May 30, 2026, ahead of the league's debut on June 10, 2026. A total of 27 matches will be played for approximately three weeks.

 

The teams participating are:

 

Koylanchal Super Kings

Santhal Strikers

Ranchi Titans (also referred to as Ranchi Capitals in early drafts)

Jamshedpur Steelers

Chota Nagpur Royals

Dhanbad Diamonds

 

The top teams will advance to two semifinals, and the winner of those will play the Grand Finale. All matches will be played in Ranchi at the JSCA International Stadium.