Sanju Samson Bags Record Deal, Most Expensive Player Before IPL 2026

The Kochi franchise broke the bank, spending more than half of their total purse of ₹50 lakh to secure Sanju Samson.

Fans were initially surprised by the big spend, but given Samson’s reputation and star power, few would argue that he’s not worth the investment.

Source : PTI

Sanju Samson, who led Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, has struck gold even before the IPL 2026 season begins. The star batter has become the most expensive player in the second season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL), fetching a massive ₹26.60 lakh bid from Kochi Blue Tigers.

What makes the deal even more stunning is that his base price was just ₹3 lakh.

The Kochi franchise broke the bank, spending more than half of their total purse of ₹50 lakh to secure Samson — a clear indication of his stature and influence in Kerala cricket.

Kochi Blue Tigers Outbid Titans

During the auction in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur Titans showed keen interest and pushed the bid up to ₹20 lakh. However, Kochi Blue Tigers stunned everyone by dramatically raising the bid and securing Samson for a record-breaking price. Their strategy to commit over 50% of their budget to one player shows how highly they rate the experienced batter.

Fans were initially surprised by the big spend, but given Samson’s reputation and star power, few would argue that he’s not worth the investment.

Not Just Sanju: Big Buys This Season

Samson wasn’t the only player who drew big money. Fellow Kerala cricketer Vishnu Vinod became the second-highest purchase of the season, with Aries Kollam signing him for ₹13.80 lakh. All-rounder Jalaj Saxena was also snapped up by Alleppey Ripples for ₹12.40 lakh.

Comeback Trail After IPL 2025

Sanju was last seen in action during IPL 2025 but missed a major part of the tournament due to injury. In his absence, Rajasthan Royals were captained by Riyan Parag. Samson played nine matches in that season, scoring 285 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 140.

Now, fully fit, Samson will look to light up the Kerala Cricket League with his trademark attacking style.

Samson’s Explosive T20 Numbers

Sanju Samson is known for his explosive starts and elegant stroke play. In his T20 career so far, the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter has played 304 matches, scoring 7,629 runs at an average of 29.68. He has six centuries and 48 half-centuries to his name, with an impressive strike rate of 137.01.