Kerala Cricket League fails to attract crowds

During the league phase, the stadium galleries remained largely empty for several matches despite free entry and promotional efforts involving prominent personalities, including Mohanlal and Sanju Samson. The Kerala Cricket Association said the venue saw a better turnout when former West Indies star Chris Gayle attended the Kochi Blue Tigers–Thrissur Titans match. Officials estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 spectators attended at different times that day, still well below the lower-level gallery's capacity of nearly 23,000.

Former Ranji Trophy players and cricket administrators have suggested that the problem is not unique to the KCL. Domestic competitions across India often struggle to attract stadium audiences despite strong television and digital viewership.

Former Ranji player S. Manoj said the league remains among the more-watched State-level cricket competitions but argued that people increasingly prefer following domestic cricket remotely rather than attending matches in person. Former Ranji player Santhosh Karunakaran said stronger visibility for local players, including pathways to the IPL, could help build a larger fan base.

Weather and the Onam holiday period may also have affected attendance, according to KCA secretary Vinod S. Kumar. The absence of major local star Sanju Samson was cited by some sources as another possible factor.

Yet the KCL's eventual final demonstrated that the appetite for the tournament exists. More than 28,000 spectators reportedly attended the final, where Thrissur Titans defeated Calicut Globstars by four wickets to win their maiden title.

The contrast suggests that the challenge for KCL is less about cricketing quality and more about consistently converting interest into stadium attendance.