‘It’s just another game’: Ahead of KCL-3 final, Calicut Globstars’ Jose Perayil keeps it simple

The Kerala Cricket League's third season reaches its climax tonight as Calicut Globstars take on Thrissur Titans in the final at the Greenfield Stadium in Karyavattom at 8 pm.

It is the first KCL final for both teams, but Calicut are not allowing the occasion to weigh on them, said Calicut bowler Jose S Perayil.

“We are just playing the next game. We are not overwhelmed that it is the final. We just want to keep it simple and enjoy the game,” Jose told Onmanorama ahead of the title clash.

The late-evening start could make the toss particularly important, with dew expected to become a factor during the second innings. The moisture could make it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball and give an advantage to the team batting second.

“Dew is pretty much a factor in the final, especially since it is played at 8 pm. Bowlers may lose their grip on the ball during the second innings because of that. This may give the batsmen an edge,” Jose said.

Calicut have not enjoyed much luck at the toss this season, winning it only three times. On all three occasions, they opted to bowl first. Jose, however, believes the team has shown the right mentality regardless of the toss results.

Jose said that Calicut have plenty of match-winners in their ranks, with the team relying on different players to step up at different stages of the tournament. “Ours is a complete team effort. For every match, we are having a new match-winner. From the captain Rohan Kunnummal to Akhil Scaria, we have players who have proved themselves in Kerala cricket,” Jose said.

He added that the camaraderie within the squad has also helped Calicut's campaign. “The team is like a family. Everyone is enjoying the time we are spending together,” he said.

Standing between Calicut and the title are Thrissur Titans, who beat Trivandrum Royals by one wicket in the first semifinal to reach the final.

Jose described Thrissur as a strong all-round team but said Calicut have a clear plan for their opponents. “We know them very well. We always have a plan for every batter and bowler. We will stick to our plan,” he said.

Jose played a key role in Calicut's run to the final, taking three wickets for 33 runs in their semifinal victory over Alleppey Ripples.

His most important dismissal was that of Alleppey captain Sachin Baby, who was threatening to take the chase away from Calicut. Sachin had scored 73 while chasing Calicut's 218/5 before he was caught by Salman Nizar off Jose's bowling.

Jose also dismissed Sibin Gireesh for a duck and M P Sreeroop as Calicut restricted their opponents to 168/8 and sealed a 36-run victory.

However, the pacer was quick to put his semifinal performance in the context of the team's overall effort. “We play according to the situations. Results depend on the way we handle those situations. This is a team game and it only takes a ball or an over for the game to change,” Jose said.

With the title now one game away, Jose said Calicut's approach would remain unchanged. “We want to play good cricket and keep it simple. We are hopeful,” he said.