APL Season 2 auction: Rayalaseema Kings picks up Hanuma Vihari for Rs 6.60L, becomes expensive player

Visakhapatnam: Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari became the most expensive player in the Andhra Premier League (APL) Season 2 auction after he was picked up by Rayalaseema Kings for Rs 6.60 lakh.

The auction was conducted at Hotel Green Park in Vizag on Tuesday.

With over 580 players in the auction pool, around 120 players were eventually drafted into the six competing teams – Coastal Riders, Bezawada Tigers, KVR Uttarandhra Lions, Marlin Godavari Titans, Rayalaseema Kings, and Vizag Warriors.

The auction was inaugurated by Munish Sehgall, the acting Chairman of the APL Governing Council. He delivered a powerful speech before the bidding process.

Hanuma Vihari was picked by Rayalaseema Kings for Rs 6.60 lakh. He is the captain of the Andhra State Ranji team. Vihari was a member of Team India that won the test series in Australia in 2018–19 and 2020–21.

Godavari Titans took M Dheeraj Kumar for Rs 5.20 lakh using their Right to Match (RTM) card.

Ashwin Hebbar was retained by Vizag Warriors for a price of Rs 5.10 lakh and Yarra Prithvi Raj, who once played for Kolkatta Knight Riders in Indian Premier League was picked up for Rs 5 lakh by Uttarandhra Lions.

Secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) Gopinath Reddy expressed confidence that the upcoming season will be full enthralling and full of action.

The auction witnessed spirited bidding wars, as team owners vied for the best talent to strengthen their respective line-ups.

A total of Rs 1.8 crore was spent collectively by the franchises to acquire players during the auction, highlighting the significance and competitiveness of the APL Season 2.

APL Season 2 is scheduled to commence on August 16 which will be telecast live on "Star Sports First", and cricket fans can look forward to witnessing exceptional cricketing talent in action during the league matches.