In the nine editions of the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) thus far, Southern teams have dominated, clinching the title eight times. The Telugu Warriors have emerged victorious four times, while the Chennai Rhinos and Karnataka Bulldozers have each secured the championship twice. The only exception was in 2019 when the Mumbai Heroes defeated the Karnataka Bulldozers to claim the title. Demonstrating the Southern teams’ dominance, the Kerala Strikers finished as runners-up twice in these finals.
Vishnu Vardhan Induri, the founder of CCL, remains optimistic about the prospects of a Northern team clinching the trophy this season. Despite the close call by the Bhojpuri Dabanggs last year, who reached the championship game but lost to the Telugu Warriors, Vishnu humorously suggested during an event unveiling the Karnataka Bulldozers’ squad jersey that a Northern team might emerge victorious in 2024.
However, Pradeep, the captain of the Karnataka Bulldozers, expressed his team’s determination to secure yet another victory. Players such as Darling Krishna, J Karthik, Rajeev Hannu and Suneel Raoh echoed the sentiment, showing their resolve with the phrase Ee sala cup namde. This determination stems from their disappointment in the 2023 semi-final loss, a result they were not expecting.
Reflecting on the CCL’s growth over the past decade, Pradeep highlighted the league’s international reach, with promotional content now displayed at iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa. He attributed this success to the collective hard work of everyone involved. Pradeep also mentioned the absence of Kiccha Sudeep at the event due to illness.
The opening match will feature the Mumbai Heroes against the Kerala Strikers. The Karnataka Bulldozers will commence their campaign on February 25, facing off against the Mumbai Heroes. Sony Sports Ten 5 will telecast the matches, with JioCinema serving as the streaming partner. Star Network will handle regional telecasts in the South.
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