MCA Invites Bids for Ninth Franchise as T20 Mumbai League Expands

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has invited bids for the right to run a new team in the T20 Mumbai League, opening the door for the men’s competition to grow into a nine-team tournament.

The new franchise will represent Navi Mumbai, taking the league into another part of the region and creating more chances for cricketers from Mumbai and nearby areas. The announcement comes less than two months after the league completed its fourth season in June.

“The season saw strong fan interest and competitive cricket, further strengthening the league’s position as one of India’s leading franchise-based domestic T20 tournaments,” the MCA said in a statement.

Navi Mumbai Set to Join T20 Mumbai League

The latest move follows the completion of the fourth edition in June. The season attracted plenty of interest from fans and featured competitive cricket, helping the T20 Mumbai League maintain its place among India’s major domestic franchise T20 competitions.

The Navi Mumbai side will be the first new team added to the league since its launch. It will take the competition to nine teams if the bidding process is completed successfully. During the 2026 season, league chairman Rajdip Gupta had said that the tournament would widen its reach ahead of the 2027 edition.

Those interested in bidding can collect the documents from the MCA office at the Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, Churchgate, from August 10 to 25. They can be collected between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on working days.

The bid papers will cost ₹2.5 lakh, which is non-refundable, and the payment has to be made through a demand draft in favour of the Mumbai Cricket Association. Bidders can also pay by bank transfer using the account details given in the tender notice on the MCA’s official website.

A ninth team, especially one from Navi Mumbai, takes the league beyond its usual Mumbai city base and into a wider market. It brings in more local fans, gives sponsors access to new audiences, and creates another source of income for the MCA through franchise fees and the commercial rights linked to the new team.

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