The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Tuesday announced a star-studded line-up of icon players, headlined by India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane, for its upcoming T20 Mumbai League 2025 season.
Returning after a six-year hiatus, the T20 League will start shortly after the 2025 season and be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from May 26 to June 8. Joining the roster of icon players are Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur, , and Tushar Deshpande
“We are delighted to unveil eight icon players who have brought immense pride to Mumbai with their performances on both the domestic and international stage. They represent the spirit, legacy and excellence of Mumbai cricket. Their presence will not only inspire and mentor emerging talent but also serve as a valuable learning opportunity for them as we remain committed to discovering and promoting the next generation of India’s cricketing stars. Having these players in the league will also raise its stature and provide fans with a thrilling and memorable experience,” said Ajinkya Naik, president of MCA.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has made it ‘mandatory’ for all their Indian players to take part in their T20 Mumbai League. The MCA had recently unveiled India’s ODI and Test captain, , as their ‘Face of the League’.
“All Mumbai’s Indian players have been informed that they have to play the T20 Mumbai League which will begin after the IPL. It’s mandatory, unless those, who have India commitment or injury issues they can skip,’ a MCA official informed.
The MCA will be paying Rs 15 lakh each to all Indian players as appearance fees besides their auction money. “Indian players will be paid 15 lakh separately by the association as a participation fee plus they will earn separately from the auction fees. We are working on the base price and other details,” source added.
Each franchise will be allowed to select one icon player as part of their squad, adding both experience and star power to their line-ups. The MCA will announce the date of the auction soon. Around 2800 local cricketers have registered for the upcoming league and an auction for its league will be held in May. The association is planning to start its league just after IPL from May 26 to June 5.
The T20 Mumbai League will feature eight franchises: North Mumbai Panthers, ARCS Andheri, Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, Namo Bandra Blasters, Eagle Thane Strikers, Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs, SoBo Mumbai Falcons and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals.
