{
  "id": 6088169,
  "title": "Kerala shows its love for cricket as over 28,000 pack stadium for KCL final",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/kerala-shows-its-love-for-cricket-as-over-28-000-pack-stadium-for-kcl",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/kerala-shows-its-love-for-cricket-as-over-28000-pack-stadium-for-kcl-final-1.500665258"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kerala, celebrated for its fervent passion for football, also exhibits an equally remarkable love for cricket. This was evident on Saturday when over 28,000 enthusiastic spectators filled the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram for the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) final. The turnout surpassed expectations, considering the competition is only in its third season. The KCL, structured similarly to the Indian Premier League (IPL), provides aspiring domestic and Under 19 cricketers the opportunity to showcase their talents alongside more seasoned players. The large crowd was rewarded with an exciting final as Calicut Globstars secured a thrilling victory against Thrissur Titans, winning by four wickets. Calicut's captain, Ahammed Imran, played a pivotal role in his team's success, scoring 69 runs off 49 balls, while the match's star performer, MS Akhil, remained unbeaten at 19. The overwhelming support from fans, who came from various parts of Thiruvananthapuram and neighboring districts, underscores the growing popularity of cricket in the state. The KCL's success in attracting such a massive audience is a testament to the state's unwavering enthusiasm for the sport, despite its national reputation as a football-crazy region.",
  "summary": "People know Kerala for its incredible love for football, but the love for cricket is not far behind. We have seen that whenever an international cricket match used to happen at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi back in the day. And now, Kerala has given us another reminder of just how much it loves cricket. More than 28,000 people packed the Greenfield International Stadium in…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}