Kochi: Four more Kerala players were picked up by various Indian Premier League franchisees on Sunday after Sanju V. Samson and Basil Thampi were roped in by Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.
Kerala Ranji Trophy team captain Sachin Baby (Sunrisers Hyderabad, for Rs 20 lakh), pacer M.D. Nidheesh (Mumbai Indians, Rs 20 lakh), leg spinner S. Midhun (Rajasthan Royals, Rs 20 lakh) and medium pacer K.M. Asif (Chennai Super Kings, Rs Rs 40 lakh) were the Kerala players who were picked on Day two of the IPL auction 2018.
Sanju Samson was signed by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 8 crore while Basil Thampi, who won the emerging player award last season, was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 95 lakh on Saturday.
Except for Sachin Baby, who played for Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore earlier, it will be the first IPL outing for the other three players, who have proved their mettle for Kerala in various tournaments.
An SBI player Midhun S. got Kerala call-up only this year and he was able to impress this season for Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He played three matches for Kerala. K.M. Asif, who hails from Malappuram, has also played two T20 matches for Kerala.
“It is a dream come true feeling for me. I had taken part in the selection trials of Rajasthan Royals after Sanju V. Samson referred me. The selection to the Kerala team in Syed Mushtaq Ali was a huge turning point in my life. I was able to impress in the tournament and also my performance for Kerala in Under-23 category,” said Midhun, who is from Alappuzha.
Both Midhun and Asif have not played Ranji Trophy for Kerala so far. Seven more Kerala players were in the IPL auction and several of the Kerala Ranji trophy players were not signed by the franchisees in the auction.
