The season-opening clash of Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2025 will be played between Aries Kollam Sailors (AKS) and Calicut Globstars (CG) at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram in the Match No. 1 on Thursday, August 21.
The Kollam-based franchise won all three of their clashes against Calicut last season. Moreover, they won eight out of the 10 contests in the league phase last year, before coming up trumps against Calicut to win their maiden title. Skipper Sachin Baby emerged as the top-scorer with 423 runs from 11 innings. The side will once again look to be at their best, to mark a solid start to a fresh season.
Calicut, who were the runners-up of the 2024 instalment, had an impressive debut in the tournament during the first season too. They fought hard in the tournament, but ultimately fell short in the final. They will be aiming at getting off to a good start this season too.
Match Details
| Match | Aries Kollam Sailors vs Calicut Globstars, Match 1, KCL 2025 |
| Venue | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Date & Time (IST) | Thursday, August 21, 2:30 pm (IST) |
| Live Broadcast and Streaming | Star Sports Network and FanCode (app, website) |
Pitch Report
The Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram holds a reputation of being a heavenly surface to play for the batters. However, the spinners are expected to come into play, especially after the ball gets worn out into the innings. The pitch is expected to act consistent with the new ball, generating a decent amount of pace and bounce. Anything above 180 can be expected to be a defendable total.
Head-to-Head Record
| Matches Played | 3 |
| Won by Aries Kollam Sailors | 3 |
| Won by Calicut Globstars | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
| First-ever Fixture | September 3, 2024 |
| Most-recent Fixture | September 18, 2024 |
Predicted Playing 11s
Aries Kollam Sailors
Abhishek J Nair, Arun Poulose, Sachin Baby (c), Vathsal Govind, Sharafuddeen, Rahul Sharma, Arjun A K (wk), Biju Narayanan, Basil NP, KM Asif, Amal A G
Calicut Globstars
Rohan Kunnummal (c), Akhil Scaria, Salman Nizar, Maruthungal Rasheed Ajinas (wk), Pallam Anfal, Akhil Dev, Nikhil M, Abijith Praveen, Akhil Scaria, Rahaan Raheem, Perumparambath Anthaf
Probable Best Performers of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Rohan Kunnummal
Kunnummal had scored 371 runs in 11 matches in the first KCL season. Moreover, Calicut’s skipper possesses a strike-rate of 132.33 in 33 T20s. Coming into the tournament on the back of some impressive performances in the Indian domestic circuit, Kunnummal will back his beliefs to score big in the upcoming clash against the Sachin Baby-led side as well.
Probable Best Bowler: Akhil Scaria
Scaria, who plays for the Calicut-based franchise, was the highest wicket-taker in the previous season, taking a whopping 25 wickets across the twelve games he played. He also picked a total of four three-wicket hauls in the last edition. He will once again be expected to make a mark in the tournament with his skilled right-arm medium deliveries.
Today’s Match Prediction: Calicut Globstars to win the match
Scenario 1
- Calicut Globstars win the toss and opt to bat first.
- Powerplay: 55-65
- CG: 175-195
- Calicut Globstars win the match.
Scenario 2
- Aries Kollam Sailors win the toss and opt to bat first.
- Powerplay: 50-60
- AKS: 160-180
- Aries Kollam Sailors win the match.
Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.
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