The Kerala Cricket League could hardly have scripted a better second fixture. Kochi Blue Tigers and Aries Kollam Sailors open their campaigns against each other in a rematch of last season’s final, a match Kochi won by 75 runs. For fans preparing their KBT vs AKS Fantasy Team, this high-profile rematch offers plenty of fantasy cricket interest. Saly Samson leads the defending champions, while Kollam begin Season 3 without a confirmed captain after losing the man who took them to the 2024 title.
KBT vs AKS Match Details
Match: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Aries Kollam Sailors, 2nd T20, Kerala Cricket League 2026
Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Time: 7:45 PM IST
Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
TV in India: Star Sports 3
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Recent Form
Kochi Blue Tigers ended last season on a five match winning streak and have not lost since. That run took them to the title, beating Aries Kollam Sailors by 75 runs in the final after posting 181/8 and bowling Kollam out for 106. Before that they beat Calicut Globstars by 15 runs in the second semi final, and won three league games in a row, all of them chases completed with overs to spare.
Aries Kollam Sailors were the beaten finalists. They reached that showpiece by dismantling Thrissur Titans in the first semi final, bowling them out for 86 and knocking off the runs inside 10 overs without losing a wicket. But their league form was patchy, losing two of their last three before the knockouts.
Points Table
This is the opening match for both sides, so both start on zero points. Kochi Blue Tigers begin as defending champions, while Kollam are aiming to reach a third consecutive final.
KBT vs AKS Head to Head Record
Kochi Blue Tigers lead 4-1 over the last five meetings, and they have won the three most recent encounters.
The pick of them was in the 2025 league stage, when Kochi posted 237/6 and held on as Kollam replied with 236/5, winning by a single run in one of the highest scoring matches in KCL history. They also won by six wickets in the 2025 league stage and by 75 runs in the final.
Kollam’s solitary win in this stretch came in KCL 2024, when they chased down 159 with eight balls to spare.
KBT vs AKS Squads
Kochi Blue Tigers: Saly Samson has been retained as captain after leading the side to the Season 2 title. He is the elder brother of India wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson, who was released by the franchise and has opted out of this season citing personal reasons. Fast bowler Basil Thampi has been named vice captain, having captained Kochi in the inaugural season before a year at Trivandrum Royals.
The squad has real depth in the bowling with KM Asif and Vinoop Manoharan alongside Thampi. Full squad: Saly Samson (c), Basil Thampi (vc), N Mohammed Ashik (wk), Sachin Suresh (wk), Pavan Sreedhar (wk), Akshay Chandran, Eden Apple Tom, Manu Krishnan, Pathirikattu Krishnan Midhun, Vinoop Manoharan, KM Asif, Jerin PS, Alfi Francis, Adhi Abhilash, Anandhu Sunil, Mohammed Shanu, Jobin Joby, Karthik B Nair, Vipul Shakti.
Aries Kollam Sailors: Kollam have not confirmed a captain for Season 3, and their situation is more complicated than most. Sachin Baby, who captained them to the inaugural 2024 title with an unbeaten 105 in a chase of 214 and then led them to the 2025 final, has moved to Alleppey Ripples, where he will captain that side instead.
NM Sharafuddeen and Abhishek J Nair were both retained at Category A prices and anchor the squad. Kollam spent heavily on bowling at the auction, bringing in Ajnas M for 7 lakh and seamer MD Nidheesh for 6.60 lakh. Full squad: NM Sharafuddeen, Abhishek J Nair, Pawan Raj, Vijay Viswanath, MD Nidheesh, Anand Krishnan, Ajnas M, Mohammed Ishaque, Midhun S, Vathsal Govind, Arun Paulose, Ashik Muhammed, Amal AG, Sachin PS, Preethish Pavan, Amal Ramesh, Akhil KG, Monu Krishna, Arjun Venugopal.
Pitch Report
Greenfield International Stadium has been a strong batting surface. The most recent international match here saw India post 271/5 against New Zealand in a T20I, and the ground has hosted India Women totals of 221/2 and 175/7 in recent series.
KCL matches here have followed a similar pattern. The 237 versus 236 thriller between these two sides last season is the clearest example, and Trivandrum Royals posted 208/5 at the ground in the 2025 league stage. Chasing has generally worked well, with Kochi themselves completing three successful pursuits here in their winning run.
Weather Report
Thursday in Thiruvananthapuram should be warm, with a high near 85°F (29°C) and around a 25 percent chance of rain. This is Kerala in monsoon season, so a passing shower is possible, but a full match looks likely.
Probable Playing XIs
Kochi Blue Tigers (Probable): N Mohammed Ashik (wk), Adhi Abhilash, Vipul Shakti, Saly Samson (c), Akshay Chandran, Manu Krishnan, Mohammed Shanu, Basil Thampi, Jerin PS, KM Asif, Vinoop Manoharan.
Aries Kollam Sailors (Probable): NM Sharafuddeen, Abhishek J Nair, Vijay Viswanath, Pawan Raj, Anand Krishnan, Ajnas M, Midhun S, Arun Paulose, MD Nidheesh, Mohammed Ishaque, Amal AG.
These are the likely lineups. Both are confirmed at the toss, and with Kollam yet to announce a captain, their batting order in particular could look different to expectations.
Key Player Battles
Saly Samson vs MD Nidheesh: Kochi’s captain against Kollam’s most expensive bowling acquisition. Nidheesh was signed for 6.60 lakh specifically to give Kollam a new ball threat, and removing Samson early is exactly the job he was brought in for.
Basil Thampi vs NM Sharafuddeen: Thampi has played for India and remains the most experienced quick in the competition. Sharafuddeen is Kollam’s retained anchor and will need to see off the new ball.
Abhishek J Nair vs KM Asif: Nair was a Category A retention for Kollam, and Asif brings IPL experience to the Kochi attack.
KBT vs AKS Fantasy Team: Small League
Wicket Keeper: Saly Samson (C), Abhishek J Nair
Batter: NM Sharafuddeen (VC), Ajnas M, Manu Krishnan, Vijay Viswanath
All-Rounder: Akshay Chandran, Vinoop Manoharan
Bowler: Basil Thampi, KM Asif, MD Nidheesh
Saly Samson gets the captaincy as the leader of the defending champions, a side unbeaten in its last five matches. Sharafuddeen is vice captain as Kollam’s most reliable batter and a Category A retention. The rest balances Kochi’s bowling depth with Kollam’s top order, on a ground where totals are usually substantial.
KBT vs AKS Fantasy Team: Grand League
Wicket Keeper: Saly Samson, Abhishek J Nair
Batter: NM Sharafuddeen, Ajnas M, Anand Krishnan, Mohammed Shanu
All-Rounder: Akshay Chandran, Pawan Raj
Bowler: Basil Thampi (C), MD Nidheesh (VC), KM Asif,
For grand leagues, Thampi is worth the captaincy. He is the most accomplished bowler in the match and will take wickets if the new ball does anything, without carrying the ownership Saly Samson attracts. Nidheesh as vice captain is Kollam’s marquee bowling signing. Anand Krishnan and Pawan Raj are cheaper Kollam picks who could still contribute.
KBT vs AKS Match Prediction
Kochi Blue Tigers start as clear favourites. They are the defending champions, they have won five in a row, they lead this head to head 4-1, and they have retained the captain who delivered the title. Basil Thampi’s return to a leadership role adds further experience to a settled group.
Aries Kollam Sailors have reached the final in both KCL seasons, so writing them off would be foolish. But losing Sachin Baby is a significant blow. He was not just their captain but the man who won them the inaugural title with an unbeaten hundred, and going into a new campaign without a confirmed replacement is not ideal.
Kochi Blue Tigers get the nod. Kollam have the pedigree to make it competitive, and this venue produces high scores, but the champions look better set right now.
KBT vs AKS Fantasy Team – FAQs
Q. Who will win the KBT vs AKS 2nd match today?
A. Kochi Blue Tigers are favoured. They are the defending champions, unbeaten in their last five matches, and lead the head to head 4-1, while Kollam start the season without a confirmed captain.
Q. What is the KBT vs AKS Fantasy prediction for the 2nd match?
A. Saly Samson and NM Sharafuddeen are the top captaincy picks. Basil Thampi and MD Nidheesh are good differential options.
Q. Is this a rematch of the KCL 2025 final?
A. Yes. Kochi Blue Tigers beat Aries Kollam Sailors by 75 runs in last season’s final, posting 181/8 and bowling Kollam out for 106.
Q. Who is the captain of Aries Kollam Sailors?
A. Not yet confirmed. Sachin Baby, who led them to the 2024 title and the 2025 final, has moved to Alleppey Ripples to captain that franchise. Kollam are expected to name a replacement at the team launch.
Q. Is Sanju Samson playing for Kochi Blue Tigers?
A. No. Samson was released by the franchise ahead of the auction and has opted out of Season 3 citing personal reasons. He has been named the tournament’s official icon instead. His elder brother Saly Samson captains the side.
Q. What is the pitch report for Greenfield International Stadium?
A. It is a strong batting surface. India posted 271/5 here in a recent T20I, and these two sides produced a 237 versus 236 match at the ground last season. Chasing has generally been the preferred option.
Q. Is there a rain threat for the KBT vs AKS match?
A. Some. Thursday carries around a 25 percent chance of rain in Thiruvananthapuram. It is monsoon season in Kerala, so a shower is possible, though a full match looks likely.
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