T20 Mumbai League adds ninth franchise as Navi Mumbai team joins for upcoming season

The Mumbai Cricket Association on Wednesday, September 23, expanded the T20 Mumbai League by adding a ninth franchise representing the Navi Mumbai region. The operating rights for the new team have been awarded to Aspects Sports for Rs 106.88 crore over six years, with Rs 12.21 crore allocated for the first season.

The league had completed its fourth edition in June 2026 with eight franchises before this expansion was confirmed. Aspects Sports is owned by Aspect Global Ventures, whose Executive Chairperson is Aksha Kamboj. Kamboj stated that the organisation's vision is to build a strong and diverse sporting platform that creates opportunities for athletes.

Rohit Sharma, the World Cup-winning India captain, serves as the Face of the League. The 2026 edition also featured prominent India players including Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan and Tushar Deshpande.

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Why has the T20 Mumbai League expanded to Navi Mumbai?

The Mumbai Cricket Association has described the addition of the ninth franchise as a step towards broadening the league's reach and creating more opportunities for emerging cricketers. The Navi Mumbai region's inclusion is intended to extend the league's footprint across a wider section of the Mumbai cricketing ecosystem.

"The expansion of the T20 Mumbai League to Navi Mumbai is a significant milestone in our vision to take the game closer to every corner of the Mumbai cricketing ecosystem. The addition of a ninth franchise will not only broaden the league's reach but also create greater opportunities for emerging cricketers to showcase their talent on a competitive platform. We are delighted to welcome Aspects Sports and look forward to working together to further strengthen the league and nurture the next generation of cricketing talent," President of the Mumbai Cricket Association Ajinkya Naik said as quoted by NDTV Sports.

What does the ninth franchise mean for the league's future?

The T20 Mumbai League Governing Council has welcomed the expansion as a development that will help build a more sustainable structure for the competition. The addition of a ninth franchise increases the pool of players who can participate at a competitive level within the league framework. Rajdip Gupta, Chairman of the T20 Mumbai League Governing Council, commented on the significance of the move.

"The addition of a ninth franchise marks an important new chapter in the evolution of the T20 Mumbai League. As we look ahead, expanding our franchise base will enable the league to build a stronger and more sustainable ecosystem while creating more opportunities for players to grow," said Gupta.