August is the month of festivities in Kerala, and it is also the time when the cricket carnival arrives in the capital city. The Kerala Cricket League (KCL), a project which began as a platform for the cricketers of the State to parade their talent, enters an eventful third season and will kick off at the Sports Hub Greenfield Stadium on Thursday when Calicut Globstars takes on Thrissur Titans.
However, this season, the KCL will face a challenge to attract spectators in the absence of its biggest star Sanju Samson, who will miss the entire event due to prior commitments. The KCA has launched a multi-pronged promotional strategy this season to increase the footfalls at the venue.
This season, almost all teams bear a revamped look with new players and support staff. The teams start on an even footing, making the tournament interesting. Defending champion Kochi Blue Tigers has managed to secure the key players who helped it win the title last season. Despite Sanju Samson’s absence, the Tigers boast a balanced side. Armed with several power-hitters, the team will aim to become the first side to retain the title this season.
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Aries Kollam Sailors were by far the most consistent team in the fledgling league. But under new skipper Vatsal Govind and with a relatively fresh roster, the Sailors face a tough task of maintaining the high standards they set over the last two seasons.
Alleppey Ripples made a massive splash in the auction, splurging Rs 11.80 lakh for Sibin Girish. The team also acquired Sachin Baby for Rs 10 lakh and he will lead the side. After an underwhelming show in the first two seasons, Ripples will hope to turn things around this time.
Thrissur Titans will be banking on its young brigade to deliver the goods this time around. All-rounder M.S. Akhil will helm the side, which will be looking to progress beyond the semifinals after getting knocked out at that stage in the first two seasons.
The default host, Trivandrum Royals, hasn’t been able to strike a chord with the fans following an underwhelming show last season. A new-look squad under Krishna Prasad is looking for a turnaround, relying on a balanced team and thorough preparation. Explosive batter Vishnu Vinod is a game-changer and also a crowd-puller.
Calicut Globstars possess an array of big-hitting match-winners, starting with captain Rohan S. Kunnummal, Salman Nizar, Krishna Devan and Abdul Basith. However, Globstars have a history of choking in the knockouts but, with one of the better-balanced squads, will hope to arrest that trend.
Published on Aug 19, 2026
