Cricket has always been a game close to the hearts of our people at Kovai.co, and this year, the KPL Cricket Tournament came with an unexpected twist. Not only did we level up the game, but we also brought in strategy, excitement, and team dynamics like never before.
The Live Cricket Auction
What set this KPL season apart was our first-ever live auction held two weeks before the tournament. We had 75 players, a buzzing crowd, and team owners holding paddles, bidding for their dream team.
Our CEO, Saravana Kumar, officially kicked off the auction with a wheel spin that decided the opening category. Each player was profiled into three categories – Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced, with a base point system. Team owners had to strategize with a fixed purse of 25,000 points, balancing skillsets, experience levels, and purse management. The auction was filled with nail-biting moments and excitement about who would be joining which team.
We had 10 teams, a diverse mix of 65+ male and 10+ female players, including bowlers, batters, all-rounders, and fielders.
Some memorable bidding moments included:
- Jeevanantham Sivakumar, Senior Migration Specialist and one of the most sought-after players, was picked by Team United for 13,250 points.
- Gayathri Ravi, Lead – Sales Development and a top female player, joined Bat to Basics after a strong bid of 6,050 points.
The auction was broadcast live to all our people at Kovai.co, including our UK and Chennai offices. But the real vibe was unbeatable on our step-seater, where the cheers never stopped.
Pradeep Jumani, Chief People Officer, says,
We let the team owners run the show this time in auction style! With limited points came smart strategies, bold picks, and balanced teams, which made every match way more unpredictable.
The Team Build-Up
Post auction, the teams got into action with regular practice sessions, fine-tuning strategies, and bonding with their new, diverse mix of players. A few of our teams, Vaagai, Royal Club Coimbatore, Last Minute Legends, and Willow Warriors, went the extra mile by designing and printing their custom team jerseys.
The Big Day
On a sunny afternoon in Coimbatore, the indoor cricket turf turned into a battlefield. Two matches were played simultaneously throughout the day, keeping everyone hooked from the first delivery to the final ball. We had families, kids, and colleagues who turned up to cheer the teams.
Each team battled it out in two league-stage matches to earn a spot in the quarter-finals. The competition was fierce, and only the top-performing teams advanced to the semi-finals.
The semi-finals were just as thrilling. Last Minute Legends went up against the Winners, securing a narrow win by 2 wickets. Krishna Murali, Senior Customer Success Specialist from the Winners, delivered a solid batting performance, keeping the match intense.
In the other semi-final, the Deccan Chargers played against the strong United team. Hani Harrise, Senior Customer Success Specialist from United, stood out with 4 sixes, but the team fell just short despite a solid fight.
Daniel Andrew Roshan, MDR Intern, says,
As a new joiner, KPL Cricket was the perfect icebreaker. The solid batting partnership with Sabarish during the semi-finals and bonding with teammates during the practice made the whole experience so much more than just cricket. I walked in new and walked away feeling included.
Sneha Sree Jagadeesh, Product Support Engineer, says,
My first cricket tournament was full of energy, a few swings, and some stump storms! We had a lot of fun together, learning the magic of teamwork, focus, and effort. Definitely a day to remember forever.
The Finals: Last Minute Legends Vs. Deccan Chargers
It was 8 overs of pure tension. The final toss was won by Deccan Chargers, and they chose to bowl first, setting the pace for what would turn into an unforgettable match.
Batting first, Last Minute Legends scored 80 runs, with owner Ajayganesh Gnanalingam, Associate Software Engineer, delivering 2 fours and 4 sixes. Even with a tense jackpot over, the team held strong. When it was the Deccan Chargers’ turn, Karthikeyan’s 5 massive sixes brought the match dangerously close.
But cricket is never predictable. True to their name, the Last Minute Legends sealed the win in the dying moments of the match. Just when it felt like anything could happen, they pulled ahead and clinched it by 9 runs.
Ajayganesh Gnanalingam, the owner of Last Minute Legends, says,
Every match had its twists, but someone always stood up when it counted. We played hard, we stayed together, and we lived our tagline, ‘It isn’t over until it’s over’.
He also added, “This team worked because everyone did their bit. Fazullah with the chase, Sneha’s early overs, Santhosh taking chances in the field, Antony changing the game in the semis, Anand giving us early runs, and Vishnu wrapping it up at the end. It was a proper team effort.”
Arun Sankaralingam, Senior Growth Marketer, the owner of Deccan Chargers, says,
This season felt special, especially with the KPL Auction. It gave an IPL vibe right from the start. The final was a close one, and while we did not win, I’m proud of the fight we put up.
Conclusion
Though only one team took home the trophy, every team won the hearts of the crowd. From the beginner players who gave their all to the advanced players who lived up to the hype, everyone brought their “A-game”.
This year, it was all about the live auction, the pre-match hustle, and the final-day cheers that brought all of us together, across departments and roles.
And that’s what made it a true knockout season.
Click here for our KPL Cricket Tournament 2025 video!
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