R. Sai Kishore and R. Sanjay Yadav were the big winners in the second Tamil Nadu Premier League player auction, with both players fetching a record sum of Rs. 22 lakh on Wednesday.
A total of 61 players were sold in the auction ahead of the eighth season to be held later this year. IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans brought back Sai Kishore, and R. Sanjay Yadav will turn out for Trichy Grand Cholas after being with Chepauk Super Gillies last year.
Incidentally, last year, B. Sai Sudharsan became the costliest player when Lyca Kovai Kings — now the defending champion — shelled out Rs. 22 lakh for the left-handed opener.
The Tiruppur side also acquired left-arm pacer T. Natarajan for Rs. 11.25 lakh, who turned out for the Trichy team last year, while all-rounder S. Harish Kumar got a huge bid of Rs. 15.40 lakh from Salem Spartans. The Spartans also got the big-hitting R. Vivek for a considerable sum of Rs. 11 lakh.
Some other big winners were all-rounder Abhishek Tanwar, who went to Chepauk Super Gillies for Rs. 12.20 lakh, pacer Sandeep Warrier (Dindigul Dragons, Rs. 10.50 lakh) and R.S. Mokit Hariharan (Nellai Royal Kings, Rs. 10.20 lakh).
Dragons skipper R. Ashwin said, “We wanted one marquee fast bowler and were looking at Sandeep Warrier or T. Natarajan based on who came first on the list. We are delighted we got Sandeep.”
General View during the Tamil Nadu Premier League auction held at the TNCA, on 7th February 2024. | Photo Credit: Focus Sports / TNPL
The 2024 edition of the TNPL will be held from July 5 to August 4, with the league phase to be played in four cities: Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Salem and Coimbatore. The second eliminator and the final will be played in Chennai at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, marking TNPL’s return to the city for the first time since 2021.
Earlier, former BCCI president and ICC chairman N. Srinivasan graced the event and congratulated Indian off-spinner Ashwin. “I am here to congratulate Ashwin on his upcoming 500th wicket, more than the auction. TN cricket has been kind to witness a player like him,” said Srinivasan.
Sold players (all prices in rupees lakhs): Lyca Kovai Kings: Meeran Rahil Rehman (0.50), G.R. Manish (0.50), G.V. Vignesh (0.50).
Nellai Royal Kings: R.S. Mokit Hariharan (10.20), R. Silambarasan (5.00), V. Gowtham (1.60), S. Gohul Moorthi (0.5), A.V. Abilash (0.50), R. Kirubakar (0.50).
Dindigul Dragons: Sandeep Warrier (10.50), Rohan Raju (0.50), B. Rocky (0.50), K. Aashiq (0.50), K. Om Nitin (0.50), P. Elaya Raja (0.50).
Siechem Madurai Panthers: N.S. Chaturved (6.00), U. Sasidev (5.20), R. Alexander (1.50), V.S. Karthick Manikandan (0.70), J. Ajay Chetan (0.70), M. Akram Khan (0.50), L. Kiran Akash (0.50).
Chepauk Super Gillies: Abhishek Tanwar (12.20), G. Periyasamy (8.80), Daryl S. Ferrario (4.00), B. Surya (4.00), R. Sathish (2.00), A. Aswin Crist (2.00), M. Shahjahan (1.00), C. Andre Siddarth (0.50), D. Santhosh Kumar (0.50).
IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans: R. Sai Kishore (22.00), T. Natarajan (11.25), Maan K. Bafna (2.30), M. Mathivanan (2.20), R. Rohit (2.00), V. Anovankar (0.50), R. Ram Kumar (0.50), J. Jeevanandham (0.50), V.P. Amith Sathvik (0.50), M. Karthik Saran (0.50).
Salem Spartans: S. Harish Kumar (15.40), R. Vivek (11.00), M. Poiyamozhi (7.25), R. Aushik Srinivas (2.00), Robin Bist (2.00), P. Shijit Chandran (1.00), K. Vishal Vaidhya (0.50), R. Rajan (0.50), M.E. Yazh Arun Mozhi (0.50), V. Tharun Kumar (0.50), Sudhan Sanjeevi Kandepan (0.50).
Trichy Grand Cholas: R. Sanjay Yadav (22.00), Arjun P Murthy (7.25), P. Saravana Kumar (4.80), Vignesh Kannan (2.80), P. Nirmal Kumar (0.50), S. Shyam Sundar (0.50), N. Mohammed Ashik (0.50), Arya Yohan Menon (0.50), J. Rejin (0.50).
