The inaugural Kerala Cricket League (KCL) T20 2024 is set to make its debut, marking a significant addition to the regional cricket calendar. The tournament will run from Monday (September 2) to Wednesday (September 18), promising an exciting experience for cricket enthusiasts. This highly anticipated event is being introduced by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), who are excited to bring this new venture to the cricketing community.
Tournament structure and teams
The inaugural KCL T20 2024 will feature six competitive teams, each poised to showcase their talent and vie for the championship. The participating teams are:
Calicut Globstars
Alleppey Ripples
Aries Kollam Sailors
Kochi Blue Tigers
Trivandrum Royals
Thrissur Titans
The tournament will follow a double round-robin format, with each team playing against the other five teams twice. This structure ensures a comprehensive league phase, allowing teams to build momentum and secure their spots in the semi-finals. After the conclusion of the league matches, the top four teams on the points table will advance to the semi-finals.
Matches, venues and auction highlights
A total of 33 matches will be played during the KCL 2024, all taking place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. This venue will serve as the battleground for all league and knockout stage encounters, providing a grand stage for the teams to compete.
The player auction for KCL 2024 took place on August 10, featuring 168 players vying for a spot in the tournament. Each team was allowed to select up to 20 players. The most notable transaction was M. Sajeevan Akhil, who became the highest-paid player, securing a deal worth INR 7.4 lakh with the Trivandrum Royals. This auction marked a significant moment in the tournament’s history, setting the stage for an exciting season.
Iconic players and ambassadorship
The KCL 2024 has attracted a host of iconic players to add star power to the league. Notable selections include:
Mohammed Azharuddeen for the Alleppey Ripples
Rohan S Kunnummal for the Calicut Globstars
Basil Thampi for the Kochi Blue Tigers
Sachin Baby for the Aries Kollam Sailors
Vishnu Vinod for the Thrissur Titans
Abdul Basith for the Trivandrum Royals
To enhance the tournament’s profile, renowned actor Mohanlal has been roped in as the brand ambassador, further boosting the league’s visibility and appeal.
Also READ: Karun Nair’s Mysore Warriors lifts the 2024 Maharaja T20 Trophy after thrashing Bengaluru Blasters in the final
Semi-finals and final
The tournament’s climax will feature the semi-finals on September 17. In the first semi-final, the second-placed team will face the third-placed team, while the top team will square off against the fourth-placed team in the second semi-final. The winners of these encounters will advance to the grand finale, scheduled for September 18. Should there be any disruptions, September 19 is reserved as a backup day for the final. As the KCL T20 2024 prepares to kick off, cricket fans can look forward to a thrilling display of talent and competition, with the inaugural season promising to set high standards for future editions.
Kerala Cricket League (KCL) T20 2024: Full schedule & match timings
September 2:
Match 1: Alleppey Ripples vs Thrissur Titans, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 2: Trivandrum Royals vs Kochi Blue Tigers, 7:45 PM/2:15 PM GMT
September 3:
Match 3: Calicut Globstars vs Aries Kollam Sailors, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 4: Alleppey Ripples vs Trivandrum Royals, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 4:
Match 5: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Calicut Globstars, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 6: Aries Kollam Sailors vs Thrissur Titans, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 5:
Match 7: Thrissur Titans vs Trivandrum Royals, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 8: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Alleppey Ripples, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 6:
Match 9: Alleppey Ripples vs Aries Kollam Sailors, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 10: Calicut Globstars vs Trivandrum Royals, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 7:
Match 11: Aries Kollam Sailors vs Kochi Blue Tigers, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 12: Calicut Globstars vs Thrissur Titans, 6:45 PM /1:15 AM GMT
September 8:
Match 13: Thrissur Titans vs Kochi Blue Tigers, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 14: Trivandrum Royals vs Aries Kollam Sailors, 6:45 PM /1:15 AM GMT
September 9:
Match 15: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Trivandrum Royals, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 16: Alleppey Ripples vs Calicut Globstars, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 10:
Match 17: Aries Kollam Sailors vs Alleppey Ripples, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 18: Thrissur Titans vs Calicut Globstars, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 11:
Match 19: Trivandrum Royals vs Thrissur Titans, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 20: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Aries Kollam Sailors, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 12:
Match 21: Trivandrum Royals vs Alleppey Ripples, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 22: Calicut Globstars vs Kochi Blue Tigers, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 13:
Match 23: Aries Kollam Sailors vs Calicut Globstars, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 24: Thrissur Titans vs Alleppey Ripples, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 14:
Match 25: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Thrissur Titans, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 26: Aries Kollam Sailors vs Trivandrum Royals, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 15:
Match 27: Trivandrum Royals vs Calicut Globstars, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 28: Alleppey Ripples vs Kochi Blue Tigers, 6:45 PM//1:15 AM GMT
September 16:
Match 29: Calicut Globstars vs Alleppey Ripples, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
Match 30: Thrissur Titans vs Aries Kollam Sailors, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 17:
1st Semi-Final: TBC vs TBC, 2:30 PM/9:00 AM GMT
2nd Semi-Final: TBC vs TBC, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
September 18:
Final: TBC vs TBC, 6:45 PM/1:15 AM GMT
Broadcast & Live Streaming Details:
Live Streaming: Fancode
Live Telecast: Star Sports 1
Also READ: From Ben Duckett to Shai Hope: Full list of overseas players selected in the BBL|14 draft
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