Sanju Samson becomes the most expensive player at KCL auction, joins Kochi Blue Tigers for Rs 26.80 Lakh
Sanju Samson has officially become the most expensive player in Kerala Cricket League (KCL) history, as the India international was picked up by Kochi Blue Tigers for a staggering Rs 26.80 lakh in the Season 2 player auction held in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (5th July). The Kochi franchise broke the bank for Samson, whose bidding war started at Rs 5 lakh. Unsurprisingly, there was a bidding war for the biggest name in the auction, with Thrissur Titans taking the bid to Rs 20 lakh. Finally, the star player was bagged by Kochi. It is fascinating that Kochi splashed 26.80 lac, which is more than 50% of the total purse allotted (Rs 50 lac) to all the franchises. Now, it could be quite hard for them to form the rest of the team with the remaining Rs 23.2 lakh. The price tag shattered the previous auction record of Rs 7.4 lakh, paid for M. Sajeevan Akhil by Trivandrum Royals in the inaugural edition. In fact, Basil Thampi, this year’s first player to go under the hammer, went to the Royals for Rs 8.4 lakh, but that was before Kochi made headlines with their all-in bid for the biggest name in the pool. Last year, Sanju Samson featured in KCL 2024 only as the league’s ambassador, unable to play due to his international commitments. However, with India’s calendar relatively clear ahead of the (likely) Asia Cup 2025, the 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter made himself available for the auction this time around. After a disrupted IPL 2025, where injuries and poor form restricted him to just 285 runs in 9 innings (with one fifty), the KCL will give him valuable game time and a shot at regaining form before national selection picks up pace again. With the Kerala Cricket League 2025 scheduled from 21st August 21 to 6th September, Samson’s participation will bring both eyeballs and crowds.
PV Sindhu turns 30: Country’s richest female badminton star becomes emotional visiting her father-in-law’s institution
On Friday, the day before her 30th birthday today, India’s badminton icon Pusarla Venkata Sindhu became emotional after visiting the iconic campus of the National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) in Nagpur, which was not just as a sports star. Rather, it was as a family member retracing the footsteps of someone dear. Her father-in-law, a distinguished IRS officer, trained at NADT in the early ’90s as part of the 46th batch. Now retired, he remains one of the most respected figures in the service. Sindhu’s reflection of her emotion was exposed in her tweet where she wrote, “Three decades later, he retired as one of the most respected officers in the service. It was truly special to walk the same campus and meet some of his batchmates…” For the Olympian, this wasn’t just a visit—it was a tribute to the journey of public service, dedication, and legacy that her family has been a part of. During her interaction with the officer trainees, Sindhu was struck by their energy and curiosity. The young recruits of India’s Income Tax department got a rare opportunity to engage with a global sports icon—and made the most of it. “Thank you for your warmth, energy, and thoughtful questions,” she said, appreciating the lively exchange that followed. A role model for today’s generation with 20 medals across all the senior competitions, and seven major notable awards from the Indian government, Sindhu is an extremely popular athlete and enjoys an estimated net worth of Rs 59 crores, making her the richest female badminton star in India. She earns her wealth from prize money bagged from her achievements at various international tournaments, including the Olympics and the World Championships. Sindhu is also a brand favourite and endorses Maybelline, Li Ning, Bank of Baroda, and Asian Paints. According to reports, Sindhu has also made smart investments in different startups like Hoop (wellness), Better Nutrition (FMCG), and Azad Engineering (aerospace) to enhance her earnings and maintain her luxury lifestyle. She lives in a lavish home in Hyderabad and has multiple eye-catching assets like BMW X5, Mahindra Thar, and BMW 320D, which was gifted to her by legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Fluminense Beat Al Hilal 2-1 to meet Chelsea in the Club World Cup semifinal
Substitute Hercules struck a 70th-minute winner as Brazil’s Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 2-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup. A fine left-foot finish from Matheus Martinelli had put the Rio club ahead in the 40th minute. Still, Al Hilal’s Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo levelled six minutes into the second half before Hercules stole the show to the delight of the vast majority of the 43,091 crowd. Fluminense could yet face an all-Brazilian semi-final if their rivals from Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, can overcome Premier League outfit Chelsea in Friday’s other quarter-final. Al Hilal had pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, beating Manchester City 4-3, to reach the last eight, and Simone Inzaghi’s side fought hard until the end to keep their adventure alive. They bow out of the tournament having been unbeaten through the group stage, including holding Real Madrid to a draw, and having truly made their mark on the world stage. In the other semi-final, Chelsea scored the go-ahead goal on Malo Gusto’s 83rd-minute shot that went in after a pair of deflections, beating Palmeiras 2-1 on Friday night for a spot in the Club World Cup semifinals. Chelsea won’t travel far for its next match, facing Fluminense on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
