Sanju Samson tops KPL 2025 auction, bought by Kochi Blue Tigers for ₹26.8 lakh
Thiruvananthapuram: Sanju Samson has emerged as the costliest player in the second season of the Kerala Premier League (KPL) after being snapped up by the Kochi Blue Tigers for a record-breaking ₹26.80 lakh.
According to the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), the KPL 2025 auction concluded on Saturday with an intense bidding war involving Kochi Blue Tigers, Trivandrum Royals, and Thrissur Titans, all vying for the Rajasthan Royals captain. Ultimately, Kochi secured Samson's signature.
Wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod was signed by Aries Kollam Sailors for ₹12.80 lakh, while all-rounder Jalaj Saxena went to Alleppey Ripples for ₹12.40 lakh. M S Akhil, the Most Valuable Player of the previous season, was acquired by Kollam Sailors for ₹8.40 lakh.
Out of 168 available players, 91 were picked in the auction. Teams from Kollam, Alappuzha, and Kozhikode had retained four players each prior to the auction, while Thiruvananthapuram retained three.
The auction took place in the presence of Kerala’s General Education Minister V Sivankutty. Each team was allowed to spend up to ₹50 lakh. Kochi Blue Tigers exhausted their full budget, while Kollam and Calicut spent ₹49.80 lakh each, Trivandrum Royals ₹49.40 lakh, Alleppey Ripples ₹49.35 lakh, and Thrissur Titans ₹49.65 lakh.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
US firm The Standard opens GCC in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): US-based firm The Standard, a leading provider of insurance, retirement, and investment products, on Tuesday opened a GCC at Embassy Tech Village in Bengaluru.
The facility, inaugurated by IT Minister Priyank Kharge, marks the next phase of The Standard’s growth in India, following the launch of its India operations in November 2025, the company said.
According to a statement, the centre will support the continued expansion of capabilities across AI engineering, cloud platform development, data and analytics, digital transformation, and insurance operations, aligned with the company’s global strategy.
The inauguration also marks the opening of The Standard India’s permanent Bengaluru office, with plans for long-term expansion in software engineering, total experience, AI, and enterprise platforms.
The company said it will continue strengthening its in-house technology expertise in line with its long-term transformation roadmap.
“Karnataka, and Bengaluru in particular, continues to be the global epicentre for Global Capability Centres. The addition of The Standard’s GCC is yet another testament to the strength of our ecosystem—anchored in world-class talent, progressive policies, and a strong culture of innovation,” the IT minister said.
“We are witnessing sustained momentum in GCC investments, with global enterprises increasingly choosing Karnataka to drive high-value functions across AI, engineering, and digital transformation. Our focus is on enabling the next generation of GCCs that are innovation-led, outcome-driven, and deeply integrated with global business strategy,” he added.
Since establishing its presence in India in November last year, The Standard has strengthened its local leadership team across finance, human resources, talent acquisition, information technology, administration, and communications, the company said.
Greg Chandler, Executive Vice President of Information Technology at The Standard, said its operations in India play an increasingly important role in the company’s technology transformation.
“The launch of The Standard India strengthens our ability to fuel ongoing growth, innovate, scale technology capabilities, accelerate digital transformation, and deliver new solutions to our customers faster,” he said.
“This centre represents a long-term investment in world-class talent and reflects our confidence in India as a strategic partner in shaping the future of our business,” Chandler added.
