U Mumba TT rebuild for title defence as UTT Season 7 auction reshapes league landscape

The Butterfly Ultimate Table Tennis, UTT Season 7 auction has dramatically reshaped the league landscape ahead of the new campaign, with defending champions U Mumba TT emerging as one of the biggest talking points after a calculated squad rebuild aimed at defending their crown.

Just months after lifting their maiden UTT title with an 8-4 victory over Jaipur Patriots in the Season 6 final, U Mumba entered the auction with a clear objective retain the core of their championship-winning setup while adding fresh firepower capable of sustaining another title challenge.

The auction, held on April 28 in Mumbai, also marked a major turning point for the league itself.

One of last season’s finalists, Jaipur Patriots, will no longer be part of the competition after being expelled in March 2026 due to repeated payment defaults and franchise agreement breaches. Their exit opened the door for the entry of UP Prometheans, reducing uncertainty around the league while simultaneously increasing competition among the remaining seven teams. With the league set to be held in Goa from July 9 to 26, the auction delivered blockbuster deals, strategic retentions, and several notable player movements across franchises.

Among the headline signings, Romania’s Bernadette Szocs emerged as the costliest player after joining Dempo Goa Challengers for ₹40 lakh, while Indian star Diya Chitale secured ₹37.40 lakh from PBG Pune Jaguars.

For U Mumba TT, however, the focus remained on balance and continuity.

The defending champions retained Akash Pal using the Right-To-Match option for ₹9.45 lakh while also bringing back French paddler Lilian Bardet for ₹21.40 lakh. These two players formed an important part of the side that delivered the franchise’s first title last season. The biggest move for U Mumba came with the signing of Indian star Manush Shah for ₹37.20 lakh, making him one of the highest Indian buys at the auction. Known for his aggressive style and doubles capabilities, Manush adds significant depth and flexibility to the squad.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/u-mumba-tt-strengthen-title-defence-with-manush-shah-and-anna-hursey-signings-at-utt-season-7-auction

The franchise further strengthened its roster by acquiring Wales’ Anna Hursey for ₹22.20 lakh, adding international pedigree and consistency to the women’s lineup. Indian players Nityashree Mani and Anusha Kutumbale were picked up for ₹3 lakh each to complete the squad.

The final U Mumba TT squad for Season 7 includes:

Men: Lilian Bardet, Akash Pal, Manush Shah
Women: Anna Hursey, Nityashree Mani, Anusha Kutumbale

The composition reflects a continuation of U Mumba’s successful strategy from last season blending experienced international players with emerging Indian talent. One major change, however, is the departure of Bernadette Szocs, who captained U Mumba last season before moving to Dempo Goa Challengers. Her exit leaves a significant void, but the arrival of Manush Shah and Anna Hursey appears to be a calculated attempt to maintain competitive balance.

Meanwhile, the collapse of Jaipur Patriots has been one of the biggest developments heading into the new season. The franchise had enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last year, reaching the final with a balanced roster featuring Kanak Jha, Sreeja Akula, Britt Eerland, Jeet Chandra, and others. However, the termination of their franchise agreement by league owners 11Sports brought an abrupt end to their journey. As a result, all Jaipur Patriots players entered the auction pool. Jeet Chandra secured a move to Kolkata Thunderblades for ₹7 lakh, while several others including Kanak Jha, Sreeja Akula, Britt Eerland, and Pritha Vartikar could not make any teams for various reasons. The wider auction also saw aggressive squad-building across the league.

Dempo Goa Challengers assembled one of the strongest squads on paper by signing Bernadette Szocs and re-signing Spanish star Alvaro Robles, while also adding young Indian talent Syndrela Das and Abhinandh PB.

New entrants UP Prometheans made an immediate statement by securing Indian star Manav Thakkar for ₹36 lakh and Yangzi Liu for ₹32 lakh. The franchise also added Sayali Wani, Ricardo Walther, and former U Mumba player Swastika Ghosh to create a highly competitive debut squad.

PBG Pune Jaguars built around Diya Chitale, alongside Prithika Pavade and Omar Assar, while Ahmedabad APL Pipers retained Manika Batra and added Sofia Polcanova and Adrien Rassenfosse.

Dabang Delhi TTC retained Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and re-signed Maria Xiao, while also bringing in young sensation Divyanshi Bhowmick, who became the youngest-ever UTT signee.

Ahmedabad APL Pipers who retained star Indian TT player Manika Batra added quite a few good names during auction

Kolkata Thunderblades retained young and talented Ankur added Ionescu and experinced Ayhika Mukherjee to the squad.

The overall balance across all seven teams suggests that Season 7 could become the most competitive edition of Ultimate Table Tennis yet. The April 28 auction has injected fresh rivalries across the board. U Mumba TT’s blend of retained experience (Akash Pal and Lilian Bardet) and marquee additions (Manush Shah and Anna Hursey) positions the defending champions as strong favourites. 

However, they face formidable challenges from every corner: Dempo Goa Challengers’ explosive Szocs-Robles axis paired with Abhinandh PB, UP Prometheans’ high-impact Thakkar-Liu duo bolstered by Swastika Ghosh, and PBG Pune Jaguars’ star power led by Diya Chitale, Prithika Pavade, and Omar Assar. Kolkata Thunderblades bring depth with Ayhika Mukherjee, Eduard Ionescu, Zeng Jian, and Jeet Chandra; Ahmedabad APL Pipers rely on the consistency of retained Manika Batra alongside Sofia Polcanova and Adrien Rassenfosse; while Dabang Delhi TTC combine Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Maria Xiao with exciting young talent like Divyanshi Bhowmick. 

With Season 7 set in Goa, the focus shifts decisively from auction strategy to on-court execution. The well-balanced squads, big-money international signings, and emergence of young Indian stars have set the stage for what could be the most competitive and entertaining UTT season yet. Table tennis fans in India are in for a treat as seven ambitious teams battle it out from July 9-26.