Kerala Cricket League: Sanju Samson sold for 26.8 L in KCL team budget of 50 L

Image Source: X

Kerala Cricket League: In a landmark event that reflects the growing financial landscape of regional cricket, Indian Premier League (IPL) captain Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kerala batsman Sanju Samson created history on Saturday by becoming the most expensive player ever to be sold at the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) auction. His services being acquired by Kochi Blue Tigers became a watershed moment in the state's cricket scene, which not only created a stir but also set a new benchmark for player valuation.

Sanju Samson sold for 26.8 lakhs in KCL team budget of 50 lakhs

Kerala's star cricketer Sanju Samson will be seen playing in the second season of Kerala Cricket League. Kochi Blue Tigers have added him for Rs 26.60 lakh. With this, he has become the most expensive player in the league. Samson's base price was Rs 3 lakh. Kochi bought him at a record price. The franchise spent more than half of the purse of Rs 50 lakh on Samson.

??? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ??????! ??

Sanju Samson – international icon, IPL star, Ranji powerhouse is sold to Kochi Blue Tigers for ₹26.8L! The roar just got louder ??#KCL2025 #KCLSeason2 pic.twitter.com/gU9I96emkz

— Kerala Cricket League (@KCL_t20) July 5, 2025

Samson was bought for Rs 26.8 lakh, breaking the previous KCL record by a big margin. The previous highest bid was Rs 7.4 lakh, which was made by Trivandrum Royals for rising player MS Akhil. Samson's bid was almost four times that record - reflecting his immense popularity as a cricketer and his image as a local hero.

Sanju Samson will play KCL for the first time

Samson will be seen playing for the first time in the tournament organized by Kerala Cricket Association (KCA). Earlier, he was dropped from the Vijay Hazare Trophy team for not attending the preparation camp held in Wayanad in December 2024. Kerala reached the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in its history.

Last year, Samson was declared the brand ambassador of Kerala Cricket League. However, due to international matches, he did not play any match in the first season. Samson was last seen playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. He did not play all the matches in the 18th season due to injury. In such a situation, Riyan Parag took over the command of Rajasthan Royals. Sanju scored 285 runs in 9 matches this season at an average of around 36 and a strike rate of 140.

Also Read in Hindi: Siraj Test records with and without Jasprit Bumrah

---