Sibin Girish Becomes Top Bidder in Kerala Cricket League Auction
Kerala Cricket League Auction Results
The player auction for the third season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) wrapped up on Sunday, with Sibin Girish being the highest-priced player, signed by Alleppey Ripples for Rs 11.80 lakh. Initially categorized in Category C with a base price of Rs 75,000, Sibin's remarkable performances in the last KCL season and the recent NSK Trophy led to fierce bidding. Alleppey Ripples outbid competitors including Calicut Globstars, Thrissur Titans, and Kochi Blue Tigers to secure him.
Following closely, Krishnadev was retained by Calicut Globstars for Rs 11.20 lakh, making him the second-highest bid. Veteran batsman Sachin Baby was also acquired by Alleppey Ripples for Rs 10 lakh.
In total, 18 players were retained by the six franchises prior to the auction, while 89 players were acquired during the bidding.
Highlights of Key Auction Buys
Category A Highlights
Among the top earners in Category A, Sachin Baby, Vishnu Vinod, Nidheesh MD, and Basil Thampi stood out. Vishnu Vinod was signed by Trivandrum Royals for Rs 7.80 lakh, Nidheesh MD went to Kollam Sailors for Rs 6.60 lakh, and Basil Thampi was acquired by Kochi Blue Tigers for Rs 5.40 lakh.
Top All-rounders
In the all-rounders' category, Abdul Basid was signed by Calicut Globstars for Rs 8 lakh, while Abhijith Praveen joined Alleppey Ripples for Rs 6 lakh. Kollam Sailors also secured M. Ajnas for Rs 7 lakh and Anand Krishnan for Rs 5.20 lakh.
Category B Earners
M. Nikhil and Akshay Manohar emerged as the top earners in Category B, with Trivandrum Royals signing them for Rs 6.20 lakh and Rs 4.80 lakh, respectively.
Category C Bidding
In addition to Sibin Girish and Krishnadev, Category C saw competitive bidding for Amal AG, MS Akhil, and Vipul Shakthi. Kollam Sailors signed Amal AG for Rs 3.80 lakh, Thrissur Titans picked up MS Akhil for Rs 3.80 lakh, and Kochi Blue Tigers acquired Vipul Shakthi for Rs 3 lakh.
Franchise Strategies and Squad Details
Before the auction, Aries Kollam Sailors and Thrissur Titans retained four players each, while Calicut Globstars and Trivandrum Royals kept three players each. Kochi Blue Tigers and Alleppey Ripples retained two players each.
Each franchise had a salary cap of Rs 50 lakh. Trivandrum Royals, Alleppey Ripples, and Kochi Blue Tigers utilized their entire budget, while Kollam Sailors spent Rs 49.75 lakh, Calicut Globstars Rs 49.70 lakh, and Thrissur Titans Rs 49.35 lakh.
Kochi Blue Tigers and Thrissur Titans completed their rosters with 20 players each, while Kollam Sailors signed 19 players. Alleppey Ripples, Calicut Globstars, and Trivandrum Royals finalized their squads with 16 players each.