Team India’s batsman Sanju has become the highest paying player in the history of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) after Kochi Blue Tigers purchased during the auction for the second season of Samson League. Samson, who was signed for ₹ 26.8 lakh, is expected to bring star power and experience in the Kochi franchise.
Sanju Samson is set to join his first major tournament under the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) since his controversial lapse from the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) squad in December 2024. The Kerala team reached their first Ranji Trophy final, where they ended as a runner-up.
Sanju Samson became the most expensive player in Kerala Cricket League auction history
Sanju Samson attracted attention to the Kerala Cricket League auction. He was listed at a base price of ₹ 3 lakh, but the proposals quickly jumped into moments of ₹ 5 lakh and ₹ 10 lakh. Thrissur Titans increased the bid to ₹ 20 lakh before the Kochi Blue Tigers eventually outbidden.
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Kochi secured Samson’s services for a record ₹ 26.8 lakh, making him the most expensive player in the league history.
The Kochi franchise has now used more than half of its total purses of ₹ 50 lakh on a player. With only ₹ 23.2 lakh left, the team has to face a difficult task in collecting the rest of its squad while maintaining the overall balance and depth.
Sanju Samson – The most expensive player in KCL auction
– Each team can spend 50 lakhs in auction.
Kochi Blue Tigers spend 26.80 lakhs only for Sanju Samson, more than half of the purse. pic.twitter.com/f7OSJQPNL66
– Johns. (@Criccrazyjohns) July 5, 2025
Sanju Samson last played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025
Sanju Samson broke three T20i centuries against Bangladesh and South Africa. Kerala -born cricketers became the first batsman to hit three T20Is hundreds in the same calendar year. Samson portrayed the IPL 2025 season for Rajasthan Royals (RR), where he scored 285 runs in nine innings.
The batsmen were struggling with injuries, forcing him to remember some matches. He started the tournament as an influence player in the first three matches, but later suffered a stomach injury during a match against Delhi Capital (DC), which dropped him out of five matches.
Samson has a long relationship with Rajasthan Royals since joining 2013. After a brief mantra with the Delhi franchise from 2015 to 2017, he re -included RR in 2018.
Auction is being held at Hayat Regency in Thiruvananthapuram
The auction is being held at Hyatt Regency in Thiruvananthapuram and is being overseen by experienced auctioneer Charu Sharma. Each franchise is allowed a budget of ₹ 50 lakh for the construction of the squad of 16 to 20 players.
Ms. Akhil, who had the highest bid on OL 7.4 lakhs from Trivandrum Royals in the previous season, was selected for a better ₹ 8.4 lakh by Mesh Kollam sailors this year.
Fast bowler Basil Thampi was the first player to go under the hammer and was selected by Royals for ₹ 8.4 lakh. Meanwhile, Vishnu Vinod emerged as the second largest earner of the day, acquired by Mesh Kollam for ₹ 13.8 lakhs. All -rounder Jalaj Saxena went to Alleppey Ripples for 12.4 lakhs.
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