The second season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) will kick off with a player auction on July 5 in Thiruvananthapuram. The auction is expected to bring high-profile names into the mix, with Rajasthan Royals’ captain and Kerala native, Sanju Samson, anticipated to be one of the most sought-after players.
Samson, who served as a brand ambassador for KCL last season but couldn’t play due to national commitments, is now ready to make his debut in his home-state tournament. Najeeb Machan, the KCL Governing Council Chairman, confirmed to Sportstar that Samson will be part of the upcoming auction for the Kerala T20 League.
The 30-year-old cricketer, despite an injury-hit IPL 2025 season with Rajasthan Royals, showcased his immense value. He managed to score 285 runs in nine matches at an average of over 35. Samson also reached significant milestones during the season, becoming the first player to score 4,000 runs for Rajasthan Royals in T20 cricket and the IPL. As Rajasthan Royals’ most successful captain, he surpassed the legendary Shane Warne in terms of total wins.
Key changes in KCL auction structure
The second edition of the KCL will run from August 22 to September 7, and major changes have been introduced for the auction. The total purse available for each franchise has been increased to ₹50 lakh, with each franchise allowed to retain up to four players. A notable addition this year is the Right to Match (RTM) card, which can be used by a franchise during the auction. Once a franchise uses the RTM card on a player, the bidding for that player ends.
In another significant move, there is a proposal to increase the base prices for players across categories. Category A players will see their base price rise from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh. Players in Category B will have an increased base price from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh, and Category C players will see their base price go up from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000.
The auction will be conducted by renowned sports commentator Charu Sharma, just as it was last year. Franchise representatives and other stakeholders will meet on Thursday to be briefed on these new changes before the auction.
Players to watch at the auction
Sanju Samson will be part of the Category A pool, which also includes notable names such as Vignesh Puthur and Sachin Baby. Puthur is another IPL player, while Baby, who captains the Kerala Ranji Trophy team, is also expected to attract attention.
The Kerala T20 League’s growth in its second season underscores the increasing prominence of domestic leagues in the cricketing world. The substantial purse increase and revised auction structure suggest that KCL is looking to build on its inaugural success and attract top talent to the competition.
