Bengaluru, December 8, 2025: The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s pioneering tennis-ball T10 tournament, has announced its list of retained players, including last edition’s stars Abhishek Dalhor of Majhi Mumbai (retained for ₹26.65 lakh) and Jagannath Sarkar of Chennai Singams (retained for ₹20.02 lakh), as franchises look to form strong squads ahead of the highly anticipated Season 3 Player Auction scheduled for Tuesday in Mumbai.

For the first time, ISPL has introduced a player retention system, allowing each franchise to secure one key performer ahead of the auction. This new structure brings an added layer of strategy to Season 3, making the upcoming bidding process more competitive and impactful.

Abhishek Dalhor was one of the standout performers of the previous edition, delivering crucial contributions in high-pressure moments. His growth has now been recognised at the IPL level with his selection as a net bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, underlining ISPL’s role as a platform for talent progression. Jagannath Sarkar, meanwhile, emerged as a dependable top-order force for Chennai Singams, anchoring chases, accelerating when required, and repeatedly lifting his team in high-stakes games.

Other key players retained for the upcoming season include Bhavesh Pawar from Tiigers of Kolkata (retained for ₹11.05 lakh) and Mansoor KL from Falcon Risers Hyderabad (retained for ₹4.5 lakh). These players delivered consistent, impactful performances for their respective sides, and their retention underscores the franchises’ confidence in them as central figures in their Season 3 strategies.

ISPL is backed by a strong leadership group featuring Core Committee Members Sachin Tendulkar, Ashish Shelar, Minal Amol Kale and Suraj Samat, whose collective vision has been central to the league’s rapid rise, scale and popularity.

Suraj Samat, ISPL Core Committee Member and League Commissioner, said: “Introducing player retentions for the first time marks an important step in the evolution of the ISPL. These strategic decisions enhance competitive balance and build excitement for the Season 3 auction. With increased team purses, new franchises joining, and 408 players from 101 cities in contention, the stage is set for teams to assemble formidable line-ups that will elevate the sport to the next level.” 

“The introduction of player retentions is an important step in the growth of ISPL. Our aim is to ensure smooth operations while giving teams and players a fair and competitive environment. With higher team purses, improved auction rules and two new franchises joining the league, Season 3 promises to be our most exciting season yet. We look forward to a well-organised auction that supports the continued progress of the ISPL,” added Dipak Chauhan, President, Operations.  

The upcoming Season 3 Player Auction in Mumbai introduces ground-breaking features, including the innovative “Googly Power” mechanism allowing sudden ₹1 lakh bid jumps, expanded team purses from ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore, and squad sizes increased to 18 players. With 408 players from 101 cities—categorized across six zones (U-19, West, East, Central, South, North) at a ₹3 lakh base price—and two Right to Match (RTM) cards per existing franchise, teams must include at least two U-19 players and ensure zonal representation for balanced squads.

The upcoming eight-team tournament is scheduled to take place in the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat from January 9 to February 6, 2026, with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season set to drive home a brand-new Porsche 911, adding an exciting new dimension to player recognition and motivation.

Reflecting the league’s rapid rise, this season sees the addition of two new franchises — Delhi Superheros led by Salman Khan and Ahmedabad Lions owned by Ajay Devgn. They join an illustrious line-up that includes Majhi Mumbai (Amitabh Bachchan), Tiigers of Kolkata (Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan), Srinagar Ke Veer (Akshay Kumar), Chennai Singams (Suriya), Bengaluru Strikers (Hrithik Roshan), and Falcon Risers Hyderabad (Ram Charan).

Fans can enjoy all the action of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) Season 3 Auction live on the Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.

The list of retained players is as below:

Majhi Mumbai:

Retained Player: Abhishek Dalhor – ₹26.65 lakh

Purse Remaining: ₹1.23 crore

Chennai Singams:

Retained Player: Jagannath Sarkar – ₹20.02 lakh

Purse Remaining: ₹1.30 crore

Tiigers of Kolkata:

Retained Player: Bhavesh Pawar – ₹11.05 lakh

Purse Remaining: ₹1.39 crore

Falcon Risers Hyderabad:

Retained Player: Mansoor KL – ₹4.5 lakh

Purse Remaining: ₹1.46 crore

Delhi Superheros, Ahmedabad Lions, Srinagar Ke Veer and Bengaluru Strikers have a purse size of ₹1.5 crore.

The post Abhishek Dalhor, Jagannath Sarkar headline Retained Player list ahead of ISPL Season 3 Auction  appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

o   Purse Increased: ₹1 crore → ₹1.5 crore

o   Squad Size Expanded: 16 → 18 players

o   New Mechanic – Googly Power: Sudden ₹1 lakh bid jump during auctions

o   2 RTM Cards allow teams to reacquire players from their Season 2 squads by matching bids

Bengaluru, December 1, 2025: The Indian Street Premier League (ISPL), India’s pioneering tennis-ball T10 tournament, announced that the player auction for Season 3 will be held on December 9 in Mumbai, as the excitement and anticipation for yet another blockbuster season builds up. 408 players from 101 cities will go under the hammer as eight franchises prepare to build their squads for a bigger, better and bolder edition of the league. The Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat will play host to Season 3 which gets underway from January 9 to February 6, 2026.

A total of 400 players have been shortlisted following rigorous trials, including 30 under-19 talents. In addition, each of the eight teams will choose one player as their scout pick from the existing Season 3 registered pool to be included in the auction, expanding the overall pool size to 408.

Players will be divided into six categories: U-19, West Zone, East Zone, Central Zone, South Zone and North Zone. Each player will enter the auction with a base price of ₹3 lakh. In a major boost, the purse has been increased from ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore, while the squad size expanded from 16 to 18. Adding further tactical depth, franchises will be able to use the “Googly Power”, a unique veto mechanism that allows a sudden bid jump of ₹1 lakh during high-intensity bidding battles. The six teams from last season will have two RTM cards each, allowing them to match the highest bid on their Season 2 players and reacquire them during the auction.

Franchise owners can bid without any maximum limit for any player, and each team must select a minimum of two players from each zone including retained players. Squads must also feature at least two U-19 players, with one U-19 player and one player from each zone required to be part of the playing XI in every match. Additionally, all 18 squad members must play at least one match during Season 3.

ISPL is backed by a strong leadership group featuring Core Committee Members Sachin Tendulkar, Ashish Shelar, Minal Amol Kale and Suraj Samat, whose collective vision has been central to the league’s rapid rise, scale and popularity.

Sachin Tendulkar, ISPL Core Committee Member, said: “Season 3 of the ISPL is another important step for grassroots cricket in India. Each year, we see new faces and strong talent coming through from different parts of the country. This auction is a key moment for players because it gives them a fair platform to be noticed. I am keen to see how these youngsters approach the challenge and make the most of the opportunity in front of them.”

Ashish Shelar, ISPL Core Committee Member, said: “The response to Season 3 has been remarkable, especially with players coming from 101 different cities across India. The diversity of talent this year is truly exceptional, with players coming from across the country with equal passion and ambition. It demonstrates the scale at which ISPL has grown and the trust it has earned in our country. I am confident that Season 3 will set new benchmarks in competitiveness and inclusivity.”

Minal Amol Kale, ISPL Core Committee Member, said: “The excitement leading into this auction is incredibly high, especially with the number of exciting talent who impressed during trials. As the league expands, so does the opportunity for these players to become household names and inspire future generations. Fans can expect intense bidding, exciting team combinations and plenty of surprises when the hammer goes down. I can’t wait to watch which new stars rise through this platform and capture the imagination of the country.”

Suraj Samat, ISPL Core Committee Member and League Commissioner, said: “This year’s auction has been designed to reflect the highest professional standards, in line with the league’s growing stature. From the structured bidding order to the introduction of the ‘Googly Power,’ every element has been created to ensure transparency, fairness and strategic depth. The enthusiasm shown by franchises during the trials indicates how seriously they are preparing for the season. We have also invested heavily in technology, analytics and operations to deliver an auction experience that matches global best practices. With an expanded purse and larger squads, teams have more flexibility than ever before. The quality of talent available this year has raised expectations across all franchises. I am looking forward to a fierce contest and a tournament that pushes the boundaries of grassroots cricket.”

In a move that has captured attention across the country, ISPL had revealed that the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) will take home a brand-new Porsche 911, one of the most prestigious rewards in India’s franchise sports landscape.

ISPL’s growing stature is also reflected in its expansion, with Delhi Superheros (Salman Khan) and Ahmedabad Lions (Ajay Devgn) joining the roster this season. They will feature alongside defending champions Majhi Mumbai (Amitabh Bachchan), Tiigers of Kolkata (Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan), Srinagar Ke Veer (Akshay Kumar), Chennai Singams (Suriya), Bengaluru Strikers (Hrithik Roshan) and Falcon Risers Hyderabad (Ram Charan).

With the introduction of a new retention policy allowing each franchise to retain one player, the Season 3 Auction is expected to be even more strategic and intensely competitive.

Catch all the action of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) Season 3 Auctions, December 9^th, 2025, LIVE & Exclusive on the Star Sports Network and JioHotstar

The post ISPL Season 3 Auction: 408 players set to go under the hammer on December 9 in Mumbai appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.