Kerala Cricket League 2026 Auction: 173 Players Available as Season 3 Kicks Off

The Kerala Cricket League (KCL) Season 3 auction is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, in Thiruvananthapuram.

A total of 173 players feature in this year’s auction pool, blending emerging talent with seasoned campaigners who have Ranji Trophy experience.

Six franchises have already retained 17 players ahead of the auction. Aries Kollam Sailors and Thrissur Titans have utilized all four retention slots, while Calicut Globestars and Trivandrum Royals retained three each. Kochi Blue Tigers kept two players, and Alleppey Ripples retained one. The teams will now vie for the remaining 156 players.

Each franchise operates with a salary purse of ₹50 lakh and must assemble a squad of between 16 and 20 players. Franchises that retained players will have the remaining balance from their purse available for auction spending.

Players are categorized into three tiers based on experience and achievements. Category A, comprising players with BCCI First-Class, List A, and IPL experience, carries a base price of ₹3 lakh. Category B, featuring standout performers from the Under-19 and Under-23 levels, has a base price of ₹1.5 lakh. Category C, consisting of players who have excelled in district, zonal, and KCA competitions, starts at ₹75,000.

Now in its third season, the Kerala Cricket League has established itself as one of India’s fastest-growing domestic franchise tournaments. The previous edition drew a television audience of over 4 crore viewers on Star Sports, while 70 lakh fans streamed matches on FanCode. Additionally, Asianet Plus recorded a live television audience of 1.34 crore, underscoring the league’s rapidly expanding popularity.

KCL Auction 2026 Schedule and Broadcast Details

The KCL Season 3 player auction begins at 10:00 AM on Saturday, with renowned auctioneer Charu Sharma presiding over proceedings. The event will be live-streamed on JioHotstar, allowing fans to follow every moment.

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