'I thought it was 75 lakh!': Litton laughs off BPL auction mix-up

When Litton Das was asked on Tuesday whether he was satisfied with fetching Tk 70 lakh at the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) auction on Sunday, he stopped the reporter mid-question and asked with a smirk, "Wasn't it 75 lakh? I thought it was 75!"

Once corrected, he broke into a wide smile. "Some places I saw 70, some said 75… I'm confused myself," he said.

The players' auction returned to the BPL this year after more than a decade, and as Litton wasn't part of the direct signing process, the national team captain became one of the most anticipated names going under the hammer in Dhaka on Sunday. But in a surprising twist, out-of-favour opener Naim Sheikh was bought for Tk 1.1 crore, while Litton went for 70 lakh.

Both Rangpur Riders and Sylhet Titans showed interest in him during the bidding. Listed in Category A with a base price of Tk 50 lakh, Litton was eventually picked up by Rangpur after four bids. However, when Rangpur placed their second bid at Tk 70 lakh, the auctioneer called out to check whether any franchise would go to Tk 75 lakh for the right-hander -- a moment that likely triggered the confusion that led many media outlets to report that Litton had been signed for 75 lakh.

As the chatter surrounding Litton's relatively low price grew louder, it appeared he himself hadn't kept track of the details. Litton said he was at the team hotel gym in Chattogram during the auction and did not follow it live. Speaking on Tuesday after Bangladesh clinched the T20I series against Ireland 2-1, he addressed the topic with characteristic calm. Despite the confusion over the figure, the right-hander showed no sign of disappointment.

The Bangladesh T20I skipper said he was leaving it all to fate.

"The auction was good. I didn't watch it because I was busy, I was at the gym. I felt the gym session was important. Of course, if I get another chance in the future, I'll take a look. But look, the auction isn't in my control. I'll try to control what is in my control."

"I believe in God. If He ever wishes for me to get more money, He will give it to me. He felt that 70 lakh was enough this time," he added.