Kerala Cricket League 2026 (KCL Season 3) runs from August 20 to September 5 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Six franchises, led by defending champions Kochi Blue Tigers, will chase the title after a heated player auction in July. Here’s the full breakdown of the format, the auction numbers, the champions list and where to catch every match.
Kerala Cricket League 2026 at a Glance
Before getting into the details, here’s the quick snapshot every fan needs first.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Federal Bank Kerala Cricket League Season 3 |
| Organiser | Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) |
| Format | Twenty20 (T20) |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Season window | August 20 to September 5, 2026 |
| Venue | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Defending champions | Kochi Blue Tigers |
| Auction date and venue | July 11, 2026, The Leela Raviz Hotel, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Purse per team | ₹50 lakh |
| Squad size | 16 to 20 players per team |
The Kerala Cricket Association, which traces its roots back to the Travancore-Cochin Cricket Association formed in 1951, runs the show. And it has built something that already feels like a proper regional institution in just two years.
KCL 2026: Full Schedule
Here is the Full Schedule of KCL 2026 given below:
| Match | Date | Time (IST) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | 20 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Calicut Globstars vs Thrissur Titans | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 2 | 20 Aug 2026 | 07:45 PM | Kochi Blue Tigers vs Aries Kollam Sailors | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 3 | 21 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Adani Trivandrum Royals vs Alleppey Ripples | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 4 | 21 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Calicut Globstars vs Kochi Blue Tigers | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 5 | 22 Aug 2026 | 02:00 PM | Aries Kollam Sailors vs Adani Trivandrum Royals | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 6 | 22 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Alleppey Ripples vs Thrissur Titans | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 7 | 23 Aug 2026 | 02:00 PM | Thrissur Titans vs Kochi Blue Tigers | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 8 | 23 Aug 2026 | 06:00 PM | Aries Kollam Sailors vs Calicut Globstars | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 9 | 24 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Calicut Globstars vs Alleppey Ripples | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 10 | 24 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Adani Trivandrum Royals vs Kochi Blue Tigers | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 11 | 25 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Alleppey Ripples vs Aries Kollam Sailors | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 12 | 25 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Adani Trivandrum Royals vs Thrissur Titans | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 13 | 26 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Thrissur Titans vs Aries Kollam Sailors | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 14 | 26 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Kochi Blue Tigers vs Alleppey Ripples | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 15 | 27 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Aries Kollam Sailors vs Kochi Blue Tigers | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 16 | 27 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Calicut Globstars vs Adani Trivandrum Royals | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 17 | 28 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Alleppey Ripples vs Calicut Globstars | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 18 | 28 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Thrissur Titans vs Adani Trivandrum Royals | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 19 | 29 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Kochi Blue Tigers vs Thrissur Titans | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 20 | 29 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Aries Kollam Sailors vs Alleppey Ripples | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 21 | 30 Aug 2026 | 02:00 PM | Kochi Blue Tigers vs Calicut Globstars | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 22 | 30 Aug 2026 | 06:00 PM | Adani Trivandrum Royals vs Aries Kollam Sailors | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 23 | 31 Aug 2026 | 02:30 PM | Alleppey Ripples vs Adani Trivandrum Royals | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 24 | 31 Aug 2026 | 06:45 PM | Thrissur Titans vs Calicut Globstars | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 25 | 01 Sep 2026 | 02:30 PM | Aries Kollam Sailors vs Thrissur Titans | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 26 | 01 Sep 2026 | 06:45 PM | Alleppey Ripples vs Kochi Blue Tigers | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 27 | 02 Sep 2026 | 02:30 PM | Kochi Blue Tigers vs Adani Trivandrum Royals | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 28 | 02 Sep 2026 | 06:45 PM | Calicut Globstars vs Aries Kollam Sailors | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 29 | 03 Sep 2026 | 02:30 PM | Adani Trivandrum Royals vs Calicut Globstars | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Match 30 | 03 Sep 2026 | 06:45 PM | Thrissur Titans vs Alleppey Ripples | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Semi-Final 1 | 04 Sep 2026 | 02:30 PM | TBC vs TBC | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Semi-Final 2 | 04 Sep 2026 | 06:45 PM | TBC vs TBC | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Final | 05 Sep 2026 | 07:00 PM | TBC vs TBC | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
With 30 league matches packed into just over two weeks, keeping up with every result, points table change, and playoff scenario can be overwhelming for casual fans. A dedicated hub covering the KCL T20 League 2026 offers real-time scores, match reports, and standings updates throughout the season, making it easier to follow the tournament from the opening fixture to the September 5 final. As the league enters its third year with growing national attention, having a single go-to source ensures fans never miss a key result in the title race.
Who Are the Six Teams Fighting for the Title?
The league kept its familiar six-team, city-based structure for KCL 2026.
Every franchise headed into the July auction backed by the same ₹50 lakh purse, so nobody had a financial head start.
| Team | Notable 2026 signing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kochi Blue Tigers | Saly Samson (retained, captain) | Led the team to the 2025 title |
| Aries Kollam Sailors | Ajnas M | ₹7 lakh |
| Alleppey Ripples | Sibin Gireesh (costliest buy overall) | ₹11.80 lakh |
| Calicut Globstars | Krishna Devan (retained) | ₹11.20 lakh |
| Thrissur Titans | MS Akhil | ₹3.80 lakh |
| Trivandrum Royals | Vishnu Vinod | ₹7.80 lakh |
Here’s an interesting subplot. Sanju Samson won’t turn out for Kochi this year because of his international commitments, but his elder brother Saly Samson stays on as captain. So the Blue Tigers dugout still runs in the family, just minus the India shirt.
How Does the KCL 2026 Format Work?
KCL follows a straightforward T20 league structure, and it hasn’t changed much since the tournament launched.
Group Stage
All six teams play each other twice in a double round-robin league. That works out to 30 league matches before the knockouts begin, the same structure used in Season 1 and Season 2.
Playoffs and Final
The top four teams on the points table advance to the semi-finals. In Season 2, the second and third-placed sides met in one semi-final while the first and fourth-placed teams played the other.
The two winners then met in the final. Season 3 is expected to follow the same pattern, though the KCA hasn’t issued an official points-table seeding chart yet.
KCL Season 3 Auction: The Numbers That Mattered
A total of 173 players were listed for the Season 3 auction, split across three categories once the retained players were set aside. Category A covered players with first-class, List A or IPL experience and carried a base price of ₹3 lakh. Category B was reserved for Under-19 and Under-23 state players, and Category C started at a base of ₹75,000.
By the end of the day, 89 players found buyers, taking the combined strength of all six squads past the 100-player mark. Here’s where the real money went.
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sibin Gireesh | Alleppey Ripples | ₹11.80 lakh |
| Krishna Devan | Calicut Globstars | ₹11.20 lakh |
| Sachin Baby | Alleppey Ripples | ₹10 lakh |
| Abdul Bazith | Calicut Globstars | ₹8 lakh |
| Vishnu Vinod | Trivandrum Royals | ₹7.80 lakh |
| Ajnas M | Aries Kollam Sailors | ₹7 lakh |
| MD Nidheesh | Aries Kollam Sailors | ₹6.60 lakh |
| Nikhil M | Trivandrum Royals (Right to Match) | ₹6.40 lakh |
Sibin Gireesh started the day in Category C with a base price of just ₹75,000. He walked out 15 times costlier after Alleppey Ripples fought off interest from Calicut, Thrissur and Kochi to sign him. That’s the kind of swing that makes local auctions genuinely fun to follow.
Kerala Cricket League Champions List
Two seasons in, KCL already has its own mini-rivalry brewing. Here’s how the trophy has moved so far.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Result | Final Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (Season 1) | Aries Kollam Sailors | Calicut Globstars | Won by 6 wickets | September 18, 2024 |
| 2025 (Season 2) | Kochi Blue Tigers | Aries Kollam Sailors | Won by 75 runs | September 7, 2025 |
| 2026 (Season 3) | To be decided | To be decided | Final expected around September 5, 2026 | — |
Aries Kollam Sailors have reached both finals played so far, winning one and losing one. Kochi Blue Tigers, meanwhile, will start Season 3 as the team everyone wants to knock off top spot.
Where to Watch Kerala Cricket League 2026
For the last two seasons, Star Sports and FanCode split the broadcast duties, with Star Sports carrying television coverage and FanCode handling live streaming, scores and highlights.
Regional viewers also got coverage through Asianet Plus. The KCA hasn’t confirmed the official broadcaster for Season 3 as of this writing, so keep an eye on the official KCL website closer to the opening match for confirmation.
There’s also a dedicated KCL app, available on both the Play Store and the App Store, where fans can follow the points table, squads and match centre in real time.
Greenfield International Stadium: Home of the KCL
Every single KCL match, across all three seasons, has been played at one venue. The Greenfield International Stadium sits at The Sports Hub in Karyavattom and holds close to 55,000 spectators. It opened in 2015 and became India’s 50th international cricket venue when it hosted a T20I against New Zealand later that year.
The pitch here tends to help spinners as the match wears on, and boundaries run large. So teams batting first usually hold a slight edge, which is worth remembering if you’re following the points table race.
Facts That Make KCL Worth Following
A few things about this league stand out beyond the scorecards.
- The costliest player ever remains untouched. Sanju Samson’s ₹26.8 lakh price tag from Season 2 is still more than double what Sibin Gireesh fetched this year. Kerala doesn’t have its own IPL franchise, but its local auction room clearly doesn’t need one to get competitive.
- A brand ambassador with real star power. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has been the face of the league since its 2024 launch.
- A family affair at the top. Saly Samson captains Kochi Blue Tigers while his brother Sanju plays for India, so the Samson surname isn’t going anywhere from Kerala cricket conversations any time soon.
- Consistent home advantage for one venue. Three seasons, one stadium. Greenfield International has quietly become the true home of Kerala’s domestic T20 cricket.
Final Word: KCL 2026 is Announced between August 20 to September 5, 2026
Kerala Cricket League 2026 builds on two well-received seasons with a familiar six-team format, a fresh auction and a title race that’s genuinely open.
Aries Kollam Sailors will want a second trophy, Kochi Blue Tigers will defend theirs, and four other franchises will fancy breaking the pattern. Bookmark the points table once matches begin on August 20, because this one tends to go right down to the final over.
