The auction for The Hundred 2026 men’s cricket league recently took place on March 12, 2026, and Indian owner Kavya Maran came under heavy criticism after the event. Her franchise, Sunrisers Leeds, picked Pakistani mystery leg spinner Abrar Ahmed for a hefty sum, which has sparked a major controversy online.
Abrar was bought by Sunrisers Leeds for £190k (190,000 pounds), which roughly converts to 2.34 crore in Indian rupees. Kavya Maran’s Sunrisers Leeds franchise secured him after an intense bidding war against Trent Rockets, making this one of the most talked about signings of the auction.
Ever since news of Abrar’s signing with Sunrisers Leeds broke on the internet, Kavya Maran has been facing sharp criticism from a section of Indian fans. On the other hand, Pakistani fans are celebrating this move and mocking those Indians who are criticising the decision, in a way rubbing more salt in the wounds.
It is important to remember that Abrar Ahmed is the same player who mocked Indian fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman by posting a picture on his Instagram account in March 2025, in which Abrar could be seen holding a cup with the caption “Fantastic Tea.” This was a clear reference to Abhinandan’s viral “the tea is fantastic” remark from 2019.
Abrar also repeatedly made fun of the Pahalgam 2025 terror attack victims and continued posting disrespectful content against the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. These actions have deeply hurt the sentiments of many Indians, which is why his signing by an Indian owned franchise has caused such outrage.
A few months ago, IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders and franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan also received strong backlash on social media after picking Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman during the IPL auction that took place between November 24, 2025 and November 25, 2025. Following the outrage, KKR reversed their decision and dropped Mustafizur from the team.
Now, it will be interesting to see whether Indian cricket fans choose to boycott Sunrisers Hyderabad during IPL 2026 and whether Kavya Maran gets booed in IPL 2026 matches for what many consider going against Indian pride. The atmosphere around this controversy is getting increasingly heated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Why is Kavya Maran being criticised after The Hundred 2026 auction?
Kavya Maran is being criticised because her team Sunrisers Leeds picked Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed, who has previously mocked India and its armed forces, which has upset many Indian fans.
Q2. How much did Sunrisers Leeds pay for Abrar Ahmed?
Sunrisers Leeds bought Abrar Ahmed for £190k (190,000 pounds), which is approximately 2.34 crore in Indian rupees.
Q3. What controversial posts did Abrar Ahmed make about India?
Abrar Ahmed posted a “Fantastic Tea” Instagram picture mocking Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman and also made insensitive posts about Pahalgam 2025 terror attack victims and the Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor.
Q4. Has a similar controversy happened in the IPL before?
Yes, Kolkata Knight Riders faced backlash after signing Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the November 2025 IPL auction and later dropped him from the squad following public outrage.
Q5. Will Sunrisers Hyderabad face a boycott in IPL 2026?
There is growing speculation that some Indian fans may boycott Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 and may even boo Kavya Maran in stadiums, but the actual reaction will only be clear once the season begins.
Q6. Which team tried to buy Abrar Ahmed apart from Sunrisers Leeds?
Trent Rockets were involved in an intense bidding war with Sunrisers Leeds for Abrar Ahmed before eventually losing out to Kavya Maran’s franchise.
For more such interesting cricket tournament coverage and IPL 2026 related updates, keep checking this website. If you have any queries regarding The Hundred 2026 men’s auction, feel free to drop a comment below.
