Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) is all set to enthrall fans once again as the tournament enters its 12th season, promising a spectacular fusion of cinematic star power and competitive T20 cricket. Beginning on January 16 and running until February 1, the league is expected to capture the imagination of more than 200 million viewers across television and digital platforms, reaffirming its status as one of the most distinctive sporting-entertainment properties in the country.

Since its inception, the CCL has evolved into a carnival-like event, where packed stadiums, pulsating music, and passionate fan bases combine to create an atmosphere unlike any other cricket tournament in India. Season 12 aims to raise the bar further, delivering fast-paced cricket while celebrating the diversity and unity of Indian cinema.

Eight teams representing India’s vibrant film industries

This season will feature eight franchises, each representing a prominent regional film industry. The lineup includes Telugu Warriors and Vels Chennai Kings from the Telugu and Tamil film worlds respectively, alongside Karnataka Bulldozers, Bengal Tigers, Mumbai Heroes, Punjab De Sher, Bhojpuri Dabanggs, and the newly introduced Kerala Strikers, who bring Malayalam cinema into the spotlight.

The inclusion of Kerala Strikers adds fresh excitement to the competition, expanding the league’s cultural footprint and strengthening its pan-India appeal. With actors turning athletes and rivalries fueled by regional pride, every match is expected to deliver entertainment both on and off the field.

Iconic venues set the stage for high-voltage clashes

The tournament will kick off in style at ACA-VDCA Stadium, where fans in Vizag will witness the opening clash amid electric scenes. The action will then move to SNR College Cricket Ground, offering supporters in Tamil Nadu a chance to experience the celebrity-driven spectacle up close.

As the league reaches its business end, all eyes will turn to Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, which will host both semifinals and the grand final. Known for its world-class facilities and vibrant crowds, the Hyderabad venue is expected to provide a fitting backdrop for the tournament’s most crucial encounters.

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Complete squads of CCL 2026:

Mumbai Heroes: Riteish Deshmukh, Abhilash Chaudhary, Aftab Shivdasani, Apoorva Lakhia, Madhav Deochake, Tomar, Raja, Samir, Sandeep Juwatkar, Saqib, Shabbir Aluwalia, Sidhaant, Sohil Khan (c), Vatsal Sheth

Bhojpuri Dabangs: Manoj Tiwari (c), Aditiya Ojha, Ajhoy Sharma, Anshuman, Asgar Khan, Ayaz Khan, Dinesh Lal Yadav, Jayprakash Yadav, Khesari Lal Yadav, Kumar Sudhir Singh, Manmohan, Neel, Parivesh Yadav, Uaday Tiwari, Vaibhav, Vikas Singh, Vikrant Singh

Karnataka Bulldozers: Kiccha Sudeep (c), Karthik Jayaram, Pradeep Bogadi, Suneel Rao, Darling Krishna, Rajeev Hanu, Chandan Kumar, Prathap Narayan, Karan Aryan, Nirup Bhandari, Sachin Cheluvarayaswamy, Sagar Gowda, Arjun Yogi, Arjun Bachan, Manjunath Gowda

Bengal Tigers: Jisshu Sengupta (C), Uday, Indrasish, Mohan, Sanjoy, Jammy, Yusuf, Monty, Ratnadip, Sandy, Aditya, Boney, Sourav Das

Kerala Strikers: Indrajit Sukumaran (c), Anoop Krishnan, Arjun Nanda Kumar, Arun Benny, Bineesh Kodiyeri, John Kaippali, Prashanth Alexander, Rajeev Pillai, Riyaz Khan, Saiju Kurup, Sanju Sivram, Siddharth Menon, Siju Wilson, Vivek Gopan

Telugu Warriors: Akhil Akkineni (c), Ashwin Babu, Nanda Kishore, Nikhil, Prince, Raghu, Roshan, Sudheer, Sushanth, Thaman

Vels Chennai Kings: Arya (c), Aadhavan, Balasaravanan, Dasarathi, Jivva, Prithvi, Ramana, Shantanu, Sharan, Vikranth, Ashok Selvan, Sathya, Bharath

Punjab de Sher: Sonu Sood, Amit Bhalla, Anuj, Apar Shakti Khurana, Babbal Rai, Binnu Dhillon, Dakssh Ajit Singh, Dev Kharod, Gavie Chahal, Hardy Sandu (c), Harmeet Singh, Manmeet Singh, Mayur Mehta, Rahul Jaittly, Navraj Hans, Jassie Gill, Karan Wahi, Suyyash Rai, Balraj Sayal

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