T20 Mumbai League 2026: Key Players Retained Including Surya Kumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer

Mumbai, April 25: The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has unveiled the retention list for the T20 Mumbai League 2026. Notable names include Indian T20 team captain Surya Kumar Yadav, along with senior players Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube.

The league has retained exceptional talents such as Ayush Mhatre, the captain of the Under-19 World Cup-winning team, Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, and Sarfaraz Khan. Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ajinkya Rahane are set to be featured as icon players. This strong core reflects the league’s growing stature.

Each of the eight teams has retained three players. The Triumph Knights Mumbai North East have kept Surya Kumar (icon player), along with Ayush and Suryansh Shedge. Last season’s runners-up, Sobo Mumbai Falcons, retained Shreyas Iyer (icon player), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Harsh Aghav. Defending champions Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals have retained Tushar Deshpande (icon player) along with Siddhesh Lad and Rohan Raj.

Bandra Blasters have chosen Yashasvi as their icon player, retaining Suved Parkar and Dhruvil Matkar. ARCS Andheri retained Shivam Dube (icon player) with Pragnesh Kanpillewar and Deepak Shetty. Akash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs kept Sarfaraz Khan (icon player) along with Shams Mulani and Jai Bista.

North Mumbai Panthers retained Ajinkya Rahane (icon player) with Abhijnaan Kundu and Tanush Kotian. Eagle Thane Strikers have kept Shardul Thakur (icon player) along with Atharv Ankolekar and Sairaj Patil.

Many of the retained players have shown impressive performances in the Indian Premier League and at the international level. They will provide a balanced mix of experience and youthful energy for their teams.

MCA President Ajinkya Naik stated, “This is a strong statement of intent from all franchises. Retaining some of the biggest names in Indian cricket showcases the strength and credibility that the T20 Mumbai League has built over the years. Moreover, the opportunity for young and emerging players to share a dressing room with such renowned stars is invaluable for their development as players. With such a high-quality core, we are set for a season that will elevate competition and the overall standards of cricket.”

Rajdeep Gupta, Chairman of the League Governing Council, remarked, “These retention decisions reflect the strategic clarity of franchises and the depth of talent present in Mumbai. The blend of established and emerging players will make this one of the most exciting seasons yet. The retention strategy clearly indicates the intent to maintain continuity while fostering a high-performance environment.”

With the retention phase concluded, the focus now shifts to the auction. Each franchise aims to build a robust core and assemble a team capable of clinching the title in the blockbuster 2026 season. Details regarding the auction dates and specifics will be announced soon.