MCA invites bids for ninth team as T20 Mumbai League eyes expansion

The Mumbai Cricket Association has invited bids for a ninth franchise in the T20 Mumbai League, with the new team earmarked to represent the Navi Mumbai region. The announcement was made on August 10, 2026, and marks the first time the league will expand beyond its existing eight-team structure.

Prospective franchise owners can collect bid documents from the MCA office at Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, Churchgate, Mumbai. The documents are available from August 10 to August 25, 2026, during office hours of 11 am to 6 pm. A non-refundable bid document fee of Rs 2.5 lakh applies, payable via Demand Draft or bank transfer. The defined timeline and formal fee structure indicate that the MCA intends to run a transparent and orderly process for awarding the new franchise.

The T20 Mumbai League completed its fourth edition in June 2026 with eight franchises competing across the men's competition. MSC Maratha Royals lifted the men's title that season, beating ARCS Andheri by 8 runs in the final staged at Wankhede Stadium. The 2026 season also saw the women's competition make its debut, with the Nuvama Private T20 Mumbai Women's League running alongside the men's event for the first time. OBO Mumbai Falcons claimed the inaugural women's title, defeating Aakash Tigers MWS by 25 runs.

Viewership figures from the 2026 men's season underline the league's growing audience. The competition drew over 65 million television viewers, with total watch time rising by 61 per cent compared to the previous season. Digital views on JioHotstar climbed by 66 per cent over the same period, reflecting a significant increase in online engagement across both broadcast and streaming platforms. The combination of a successful men's final, a landmark women's debut and strong viewership growth provides the backdrop against which the MCA has chosen to expand the league.

The addition of a ninth team will take the T20 Mumbai League into new territory, extending its geographic reach within the Mumbai metropolitan area for the first time. The Navi Mumbai region has a substantial cricketing population, and its inclusion broadens the league's footprint beyond the zones already represented by the eight existing franchises. The move also signals the MCA's intent to build on the momentum generated by the 2026 season's record viewership and the successful launch of the women's competition.

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With the bidding window closing on August 25, 2026, interested parties have a clearly defined period to complete the formal process at Wankhede Stadium. The MCA's procedural requirements, including the mandatory document fee and specified office hours, establish a structured framework for evaluating prospective owners. The outcome of this bidding round will determine when the ninth franchise enters competition and how the league's format is adjusted to accommodate the expanded field.