Kerala Cricket League starts today: Here's the full schedule, teams and key details
Track Kerala Cricket League 2026 latest updates on Onmanorama, including the schedule, match results, live scores, teams, player stats and KCL Season 3 highlights.
Track Kerala Cricket League 2026 latest updates on Onmanorama, including the schedule, match results, live scores, teams, player stats and KCL Season 3 highlights.
Track Kerala Cricket League 2026 latest updates on Onmanorama, including the schedule, match results, live scores, teams, player stats and KCL Season 3 highlights.
Kerala Cricket League (KCL), Kerala cricket’s Onam carnival, returns for its third season on Thursday. Six teams and 108 players will battle it out across 33 matches over the next 17 days at the Sports Hub Stadium in Kariavattom, with the final scheduled for September 5.
The tournament will get underway with Calicut Globstars taking on Thrissur Titans at 2.30 pm. The opening ceremony, featuring cultural programmes and entertainment performances, will begin at 6 pm. Following the ceremony, defending champions Kochi Blue Tigers will face Aries Kollam Sailors at 7.30 pm in a repeat of last season’s final.
The other teams in the fray are Trivandrum Royals and Alleppey Ripples.
KCL Match Schedule
Venue: Thiruvananthapuram Sports Hub Stadium
August 20
2.30 pm — Thrissur vs Calicut
7.45 pm — Kochi vs Kollam
August 21
2.30 pm — Alleppey vs Trivandrum
6.45 pm — Calicut vs Kochi
August 22
2 pm — Kollam vs Trivandrum
6.45 pm — Alleppey vs Thrissur
August 23
2 pm — Thrissur vs Kochi
6 pm — Calicut vs Kollam
August 24
2.30 pm — Alleppey vs Calicut
6.45 pm — Kochi vs Trivandrum
August 25
2.30 pm — Kollam vs Alleppey
6.45 pm — Trivandrum vs Thrissur
August 26
2.30 pm — Thrissur vs Kollam
6.45 pm — Kochi vs Alleppey
August 27
2.30 pm — Kollam vs Kochi
6.45 pm — Calicut vs Trivandrum
August 28
2.30 pm — Alleppey vs Calicut
6.45 pm — Thrissur vs Trivandrum
August 29
2.30 pm — Kochi vs Thrissur
6.45 pm — Kollam vs Alleppey
August 30
2 pm — Kochi vs Calicut
6 pm — Trivandrum vs Kollam
August 31
2.30 pm — Alleppey vs Trivandrum
6.45 pm — Thrissur vs Calicut
September 1
2.30 pm — Kollam vs Thrissur
6.45 pm — Alleppey vs Kochi
September 2
2.30 pm — Kochi vs Trivandrum
6.45 pm — Calicut vs Kollam
September 3
2.30 pm — Trivandrum vs Calicut
6.45 pm — Thrissur vs Alleppey
September 4
2.30 pm — Semi-final 1
6.45 pm — Semi-final 2
September 5
7 pm — Final
All six franchises have undergone significant changes ahead of the new season, with teams allowed to retain a maximum of five players. Kollam, Alleppey and Thrissur will also start the campaign under new captains.
The tournament offers a total prize purse of ₹60 lakh. The champions will receive ₹30 lakh, while the runners-up will take home ₹20 lakh. The losing semifinalists will get ₹5 lakh each.
Entry to the stadium is free for spectators, while all matches will be broadcast live on Star Sports channels and streamed on JioHotstar.
KCL is also set to introduce advanced technology this season, with broadcasts featuring Hawk-Eye, the ball-tracking system used in international cricket. A 15-member umpiring panel, including international umpire K N Ananthapadmanabhan, will officiate the matches, with 10 officials drawn from the BCCI panel.
KCL gets a dose of Gayle power
The third season will also have an international flavour, with West Indies batting legend Chris Gayle set to attend the Kochi Blue Tigers–Thrissur Titans match on August 29. Gayle, who is a co-owner of the Kochi franchise, is expected to watch the afternoon clash beginning at 2.30 pm.
Former India pacer S Sreesanth, who has shared many on-field battles with Gayle, is a co-owner of Aries Kollam Sailors.
Although India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson will not play this season, KCL officials said the tournament icon is expected to attend matches and support the players from the stands.