South Central Maratha Royals have named Tushar Deshpande as their Icon Player for Season 3 of the T20 Mumbai League after being picked at the auction held on Friday at the MCA, Wankhede Stadium.
The 29-year-old speedster, who represents Mumbai in First Class cricket and has featured regularly in India’s top domestic T20 league, will be bringing his scintillating pace and high-intensity bowling to the franchise’s squad as they make their league debut.
Deshpande’s arrival leaves the Royals with a purse of INR 85 lakh to spend in the T20 Mumbai League player auction on May 7.
The franchise will pick the remaining 17 players to join Deshpande in shaping Maratha Royals’ debut campaign in the player auction. Meanwhile, the league will kick off on May 26, featuring eight teams, with the final set for June 8. All matches will be contested at the Wankhede Stadium.
Tushar Deshpande said, “I’m really happy to be part of this new franchise. It’s always exciting to start something fresh, especially with a team that’s so closely tied to Mumbai’s cricketing roots. I have lived in Mumbai all my life, I took my first steps in cricket in Shivaji Park. As a proud Maratha, I resonate with the Royals’ vision, and I’m looking forward to helping shape that, both on the field and in the dressing room.”
Alisha Baheti, Maratha Royals’ Team Owner, said, “We’re here to represent South Central Mumbai—on the field and in spirit. This area lives and breathes cricket, with Shivaji Park at its heart, shaping generations of players through passion and grit. That’s why having someone like Tushar, who understands this culture, was important to us. We want to build something that reflects that spirit—competitive, grounded, and full of promise.”
Abhishek Nayar, Team Mentor, said, “We’re building a team that’s balanced, hungry, and ready to make a mark. In that mix, having someone like Tushar is massive. He is a fantastic bowler, as he has shown in tournaments across the country. He brings a lot of top-level experience, but, more importantly, he understands the culture we want to build here.”
Maratha Royals will represent South-Central Mumbai—a region that includes Mahalakshmi, Tardeo, Byculla, Parel, Worli, Prabhadevi, and Sewri—with Shivaji Park at its centre.
The team is owned by Royal Edge Sports & Entertainment, a consortium comprising Alisha and Kapil Baheti (Kapil Sons Explosives LLP), Mayank and Raj Khandwala (Cutting Edge Events), and Ranjit and Tina Bindra.
