The Kerala Cricket League (KCL) Season 3 witnessed Alleppey Ripples deliver their most memorable and dominant campaign yet. Entering the tournament with a revamped setup and clear championship ambitions, the team etched a major milestone into franchise history by advancing all the way to the semi-finals—their highest-ever finish since the tournament’s inauguration in 2024. While the journey concluded in the knockouts, the Ripples left a permanent mark on the tournament through fearless, record-breaking cricket.
Laying the Groundwork: A Strategic Rebuild
The blueprint for this landmark season was laid at the player auction held on July 11 at The Leela Raviz Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. Backed by CSS’s continued commitment to nurturing premier sports talent, the management prioritized a balanced blend of seasoned leadership and match-winners.
The franchise retained explosive wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen alongside premier all-rounder Jalaj Saxena to preserve team continuity. Complementing this core was the major signing of former Kerala Ranji skipper Sachin Baby, whose domestic pedigree and IPL experience made him the natural choice to lead the squad alongside Azharuddeen as vice-captain. The Ripples further underlined their intent by securing Sibin Gireesh for ₹11.80 lakh—the highest bid at the Season 3 auction.
Season Accolades & Milestones
- Table Toppers: Finished at the summit of the points table at the end of the league stage, setting the pace for the entire tournament.
- Historic Semi-Finalists: Marked the franchise’s strongest showing since the inaugural edition of the KCL.
- Player of the Tournament: Mohammed Azharuddeen, recognized as the league’s most impactful performer across the campaign.
- Top Run-Scorer & Boundary King: Azharuddeen dominated the batting charts, finishing with 596 runs in 11 matches to capture the Orange Cap honours, leading the season tally for the Most Sixes (48), and smashing the Most Centuries (3).
- All-Time Milestone: Azharuddeen also became the first player in KCL history to cross the 1,000-run mark across the tournament’s first three seasons.
- Mr. Consistent: Skipper Sachin Baby led from the front with the bat, recording the Most Fifties (3 half-centuries in 11 matches).
- Pure Power: Arun K.A. smashed his name into the highlights reel by launching a massive 101-metre strike for the Longest Six of the competition.
- All-Time League Record: The batting order wrote itself into Kerala Cricket League folklore by piling up 253 runs in a single innings—the highest team total ever recorded in KCL history.
A Strong Foundation for the Future
The historic campaign was powered by the steadfast backing of the franchise’s principal sponsors: Race Academy, RG Foods, CSS Kingston, and Freyer International—whose unwavering support fueled the squad’s fighting spirit.
While the semi-final brought a hard-fought run to an end, the team exits KCL Season 3 having set a new benchmark for competitive excellence in Kerala cricket, laying down a formidable foundation for seasons to come.