In anticipation of the much-awaited fifth season of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), powered by Clear, the eight franchises engaged in a high-stakes auction, meticulously crafting their squads with a blend of global talent and Indian stars. The auction, held at the luxurious Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai, saw franchises strategize, compete, and ultimately secure their key players for the upcoming season.
The headline-grabbing moment of the auction was the acquisition of Sumit Nagal, the reigning All-India Tennis Association (AITA) No. 1 men’s singles player, who was designated as the marquee player for Season 5. In a fiercely contested bidding war, the Gujarat Panthers, led by owner Ramku Patgir and celebrity ambassador Arjun Kapoor, secured Nagal for a staggering 18.5 lakhs, making him the most expensive pick at the auction.
Gujarat Panthers further bolstered their roster by acquiring Karman Kaur Thandi for 8.5 lakhs, adding a player with three singles ITF titles to her name. Their astute business moves continued with the addition of Mukund Sasikumar, an emerging Indian talent.
Meanwhile, the defending champions, Hyderabad Strikers, guided by the elegant Rakul Preet Singh, showcased their strategic prowess at the auction. They secured the services of Ellen Perez, a seasoned Australian player with numerous WTA and ITF titles, for 14 lakhs. Additionally, they retained Nikki Poonacha, a vital contributor to their previous triumphs, and welcomed Saketh Myneni, an Arjuna Award recipient and Davis Cup representative.
The Bengaluru SG Mavericks, led by Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza and owner Rohan Gupta, navigated the auction expertly. They made a significant statement by securing Arina Rodionova, the Russian-Australian talent, for 17.1 lakhs, making her the highest-priced female player at the auction. Ramkumar Ramanathan and Vishnu Vardhan rounded out their balanced squad.
The Pune Jaguars, under the guidance of celebrity ambassador Sonali Bendre and owner Punit Balan, made astute choices by picking Lukas Rosol, Indian tennis star Rutuja Bhosale, and Manish Sureshkumar in their bid to assemble a competitive team.
Delhi Binny’s Brigade, with Malaika Arora as their ambassador and owner Sneh Patel in attendance, secured Dennis Novak, the Austrian No. 1 in men’s singles, and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, a former doubles title winner at the Chennai Open. Vaidehi Chaudhari completed their roster.
The Punjab Tigers, owned by Raminder Singh and backed by Taapsee Pannu, shifted their focus to Indian talent this season while retaining international star Conny Perrin. They added Arjun Khade and Digvijay Pratap Singh to their lineup.
The Mumbai Leon Army, owned by Shyam Patel and supported by Sonu Sood, showcased their ambitions by signing Latvian tennis player Ernest Gulbis, Sowjanya Bavisetti, and Vijay Sundar Prashanth to create a formidable team.
The Bengal Wizards, the newest addition to the TPL, demonstrated their mettle at the auction, securing Maria Timofeeva, Sriram Balaji, and Anirudh Chandrasekar to inject youthful energy into their squad.
With the player auctions successfully completed, the stage is set for an action-packed Season 5 of the TPL. The league is slated to commence at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, in association with the All-India Tennis Association (AITA) and Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA), from December 12 to December 17, 2023.
Co-founders Kunal Thakkur and Mrunal Jain expressed their excitement, emphasizing the growth of the TPL and its potential in shaping the future of tennis in India. The anticipation is palpable, as fans eagerly await the thrilling contests and exceptional talent on display in this innovative tennis league.
