Thrissur Titans Crowned Champions in a Nail‑Biting KCL Final

It was a crisp evening in Kerala when the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) final kicked off, and the atmosphere felt electric – almost everyone could hear the buzz of anticipation. The two finalists, Thrissur Titans and Calicut Globe Stars, were set to battle it out for the coveted title.

Calicut won the toss, and their skipper Rohan Kunnummal chose to bat first. He started off with a flourish, smacking a six and a couple of fours in the second over, ending up with 21 off just 17 balls. The innings, however, began to wobble when Varun Nayanar fell early for a mere two runs. By the time Rohan was out, Calicut were 50 for 2.

What followed was a steady partnership between Akhil Scaria and Ashwin Anand. Together they stitched a 73‑run stand, keeping the run‑rate in check. Scaria contributed 45, while Anand added 40, taking the total to 144 for 4. The Titans’ bowlers then dug in, tightening the screws. Abdul Ramees was the star with the ball, snaring three wickets, and the duo of Anand Joseph and Sharathchandra Prasad each grabbed two.

Calicut eventually posted 167 for 9 in their full quota of 20 overs – a respectable total, but one that left room for a chase.

When the Titans walked out to bat, the pressure was on. The early overs weren’t kind; Vishnuraj fell for eight, and K R Rohit was out for 18. The turning point came with a superb 87‑run partnership between Ahmad Imran and Sanjeev Satheesan. Imran, who was in fine touch, smashed 69 off 49 balls – seven fours and two sixes – while Sanjeev added a handy 29.

Calicut tried to mount a comeback in the 16th over, snatching wickets of both Imran and Sanjeev, but the Titans held firm. A few late wickets fell – Nikhil Thottath (14) and Mohammed Inan (8) – yet captain M S Akhil kept his cool. The experienced skipper finished unbeaten on 19 off just 11 balls, steering the side home with three balls to spare. The final scoreboard read 169 for 6 in 19.3 overs, giving the Titans a four‑wicket win.

Ahmad Imran’s innings earned him the Player of the Match award, while Mohammed Azharuddeen of Alleppey Ripples, who amassed a staggering 596 runs and three centuries throughout the tournament, was crowned Player of the Tournament and Best Batter. M Nikhil of Thiruvananthapuram Royals walked away as Best Bowler with 18 wickets, and Mohammed Inan of the Titans snagged the Promising Youngster accolade. The Aries Kollam Sailors were recognized for Fair Play.

All in all, it was a thrilling finale that showcased the depth of talent in Kerala’s cricketing circuit, and the Titans’ triumph will surely be remembered for years to come.