Published on July 19
GUWAHATI: The much-awaited APL Player Auction was held at the 91 Yards Club in the ACA Stadium complex here on Sunday. The auction began with the sale of 20 marquee players, each with a base price of Rs 2 lakh. Every franchise entered the auction with a purse of Rs 50 lakh and was allowed to build a squad of up to 20 players.
Charu Sharma conducts proceedings
Renowned auctioneer Charu Sharma conducted the proceedings, which got underway at 10 am and witnessed spirited bidding throughout the day.
Akash Sengupta in record book
Akash Sengupta became the first cricketer to be sold in the Assam Premier League 2026 Player Auction. The all-rounder was bought by Tezpur Titans for Rs 7 lakh, setting the tone for an action-packed day of bidding that saw several top Assam cricketers command impressive prices.
Denish is the costliest
Top-order batter Denish Das emerged as the highest-priced player at the Assam Premier League (APL) 2026 Player Auction, fetching Rs 12.60 lakh from Barpeta Braves after a fierce bidding battle.
Marquee players command big prices
Wicketkeeper-batter Sumit Ghadigaonkar emerged as the second-costliest marquee signing after Charaideo Sunrisers snapped him up for Rs 12.20 lakh. Veteran Assam batter Sibsankar Roy was bought by Barak Legends for Rs 12 lakh. Ayushman Malakar and Swarupam Purkayastha completed the top five marquee signings, with Tezpur Titans and Jorhat Stallions, respectively, paying Rs 11.80 lakh each.
Notable signings across franchises
Among the other marquee acquisitions, Barak Legends signed Abdul Ajij Kuraishi for Rs 8.40 lakh and Bhargab Lakhar for Rs 5.20 lakh. Barpeta Braves added Saurav Dihingia for Rs 7.80 lakh, while Dibrugarh Warriors secured Saahil Jain for Rs 7.20 lakh and Jitumoni Kalita for Rs 6.20 lakh.
Intense bidding beyond marquee pool
Outside the marquee category, batter Nihar Deka sparked one of the most competitive bidding contests of the day. Starting from a base price of Rs 1 lakh, he was eventually picked up by Tezpur Titans for Rs 9.80 lakh. Jorhat Stallions also made a significant investment by signing all-rounder Abhilash Gogoi for Rs 7.20 lakh, while Nagaon Rangers acquired pacer Sunil Lachit for Rs 7 lakh.
Surprise deals for experienced bowlers
Among the surprises of the auction, experienced Assam pacer Mukhtar Hussain and spinner Rahul Singh attracted comparatively modest bids. Nagaon Rangers signed Rahul Singh for Rs 3.20 lakh, while Guwahati Royals secured the services of Mukhtar Hussain for the same price.
Top five buys at APL 2026 Player Auction
1. Denish Das – Barpeta Braves – Rs 12.60 lakh
2. Sumit Ghadigaonkar – Charaideo Sunrisers – Rs 12.20 lakh
3. Sibsankar Roy – Barak Legends – Rs 12 lakh
4. Ayushman Malakar – Tezpur Titans – Rs 11.80 lakh
5. Swarupam Purkayastha – Jorhat Stallions – Rs 11.80 lakh