Former cricketer Abhishek Nayar, who is no longer with Team India as a coach, is a much sought-after in franchise T20 leagues. He has been hired by the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals as their consultant for the third edition of the T20 Mumbai League after rejoining the coaching staff of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

One of the two new T20 Mumbai League franchises up for auction is the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals. On May 26, immediately following the Indian Premier League's (IPL) 2025 completion, the third edition will get underway.

Amit Dani, a former Mumbai pacer who was named the team's head coach, will accompany Nayar. However, another former coaching staff member has joined ARCS Andheri of the league. Currently serving as the bowling coach for the Mumbai Indians (MI), Paras Mhambrey has joined ARCS Andheri as a mentor. Rajesh Pawar, a former left-arm spinner from Mumbai, will join him as the team's assistant coach.

"As the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), we are committed to promoting and empowering our local coaches and support staff, ensuring they receive greater opportunities to grow and contribute not only to Mumbai cricket but also to Indian cricket. By nurturing homegrown talent, we aim to strengthen the foundation of our cricketing ecosystem and create pathways for sustained excellence," said Ajinkya Naik, President of Mumbai Cricket Association as quoted by TOI.

The league is coming back after a six-year break, and Nayar's next task will be at the auction on May 7. Up to 240 players will be going under the hammer. Eight players stand out, though: India's T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Shardul Thakur, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan, Rajasthan Royals' (RR) Tushar Deshpande and Prithvi Shaw.

They will each receive 20 lakh and will not be put up for sale. Every franchise has a Rs 1 crore budget. They are able to recruit up to eighteen players. While the base price for all players is Rs 2 lakh, the Ranji Trophy players would have a base price of Rs 10 lakh.

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