Thiruvananthapuram: Get ready for another thrilling cricket spectacle as the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) returns with its much-awaited second season, following the roaring success of its debut edition. The action-packed tournament will unfold at the Greenfield Stadium in Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, from August 22 to September 7.
Launched by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) in a high-energy IPL-style format, KCL has quickly become a premier stage for Kerala’s emerging cricket talent. Ahead of Season 2, a grand franchise meet is scheduled for June 27 at 10:30 AM at Hyatt Regency, Thiruvananthapuram, featuring all six teams: Trivandrum Royals, Kochi Blue Tigers, Thrissur Titans, Calicut Globestars, Aries Kollam Sailors, and Alappuzha Ripples.
The much-anticipated player auction will take place on July 5 at the same venue. In the first season, 168 players registered for the auction, and 114 were signed by the franchises, with an average spending of ₹35 lakhs per team. Icon players earned 10% more than each team’s highest-paid player, pushing budgets to over ₹40 lakhs in some cases.
In 2023, Aries Kollam Sailors, captained by Sachin Baby, clinched the title by defeating Calicut Globestars by six wickets in the final. Kollam walked away with ₹30 lakhs in prize money, while Calicut earned ₹20 lakhs as runners-up.
Malayalam film icon Mohanlal continues as the league’s brand ambassador, with Federal Bank retaining the title sponsorship. The tournament will be broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on FanCode, after drawing a massive 1.4 crore viewers in its inaugural season—over 32 lakh of whom tuned in via Asianet and FanCode platforms alone.
Having already caught the attention of national selectors, KCL is rapidly emerging as a talent hub. With bigger stakes, brighter stars, and broader viewership expected, Season 2 promises to raise the bar even higher for Kerala’s very own cricketing carnival.
