The inaugural edition of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2024 is set to take place from September 2 to September 18 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The tournament has generated significant buzz, with the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) unveiling the official logo and franchises’ logos on Friday, August 10, 2024.
International cricketer Sanju Samson was named as the tournament icon for the KCL 2024. However, Samson will not be participating in the upcoming tournament.
KCL 2024 Player Auction Highlights
The player auction for the KCL 2024 was conducted on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency in Thiruvananthapuram. A total of 168 players were shortlisted for the auction, with each franchise allowed to pick a maximum of 20 players.
The auction was divided into three categories:
- Category A: Featuring players with IPL and Ranji Trophy experience, with a base salary of INR 2 lakh.
- Category B: Comprising C K Naidu, U-23, U-19 State, and U-19 Challengers players, with a base salary of INR 1 lakh.
- Category C: For U-16 state players, university players, and club cricketers, with a base salary of INR 50,000.
The KCL 2024 auction was conducted by renowned sports presenter Charu Sharma, followed by a mock auction to familiarize the franchises with the process.
Kerala Cricket League 2024: Top Buys at the Auction
The top acquisitions from the KCL 2024 auction were:
- M S Akhil – Trivandrum Royals (INR 7.4 lakh)
- Varun Nayanar – Thrissur Titans (INR 7.2 lakh)
- Manu Krishnan – Kochi Blue Tigers (INR 6.8 lakh)
- Sachin Baby – Kollam Sailors (INR 6.5 lakh)
- Rohan S Kunnummal – Calicut Globstars (INR 6.2 lakh)
The auction was broadcast live on Star Sports Three and the OTT platform FanCode, allowing fans to follow the proceedings.
KCL 2024 Icon Players and Franchise Logos
The KCL 2024 has already selected seven icon players for the participating franchises:
- P A Abdul Basit – Trivandrum Royals
- Sachin Baby – Kollam Sailors
- Mohammad Azharuddeen – Alleppey Ripples
- Basil Thampi – Kochi Blue Tigers
- Vishnu Vinod – Thrissur Titans
- Rohan S Kunnammal – Calicut Globstars
- Sanju Samson – Tournament Icon
With the player auction complete and the tournament icon in place, cricket enthusiasts in Kerala eagerly await the start of the KCL 2024.
