Nagaland: Kohima Premier League Season 2 player auction held

The Season 2 player auction of the Kohima Premier League (KPL) was held at Hotel Guardian, Kohima Trade Centre on February 14, drawing participation from franchise owners, players and cricket enthusiasts, a first of its kind in the state.
Four franchises—Capital Sixers, Oking Outlaws, Central Hurricanes and Ura Mavericks took part in the auction, with team representatives closely monitoring the bidding process as players went under the hammer.
Organisers informed that each franchise had a total purse of Rs 1.5 lakh for building their squads.
In case of violation or failure to comply with the rule, the concerned franchise would be required to recruit from the unsold players’ pool with a penalty of 150 percent.
Each team would comprise 15 players. They further informed that, in the playing eleven, it would be mandatory to field at least one Under-19 and one Under-15 player at all times.
The auction was conducted in different rounds, with 69 players divided into three categories. The base price for Category C players was fixed at Rs. 1,500, Category B at Rs. 3,000 and Category A at Rs. 4,500.
The highlight of the auction was a record bid for Vikato, who triggered an intense bidding contest among franchises before Capital Sixers secured him for Rs. 54,000, the highest bid of the evening.
Vizoletuo also attracted strong interest from multiple teams before Central Hurricanes signed him for Rs. 33,000.
Capital Sixers further strengthened their squad by acquiring Tapitu for Rs. 29,000.
Oking Outlaws secured Thupuluzo for Rs. 25,000, marking one of the notable signings of the auction.
While Ura Mavericks maintained a measured approach during the bidding process, the auction overall reflected heightened competitiveness among the franchises as they assembled their squads for the upcoming season.
It was informed that Season 2 of the Kohima Premier League would commence from February 18 at Sovima Cricket Ground.
The auction proceedings were conducted by Keviselhou Sekhose. During the programme, Kohima District Cricket Association president Mengu Sakhrie addressed the gathering and shared words of encouragement with the participating teams and players.
With squads finalised and match dates announced, organisers expressed confidence that Season 2 would witness competitive cricket and increased public interest as the league continues to grow in stature within the district.