Thiruvananthapuram: Trivandrum Royals are gearing up for the third season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) with a refreshed squad and a refined strategy, aiming to stage a strong comeback after reflecting on previous setbacks. The franchise enters the upcoming tournament presenting a well-rounded combination across both batting and bowling departments.

Krishna Prasad retains his role as team captain following an outstanding individual display last term, where he finished as the league’s top run-scorer with 479 runs, including a century. While batting inconsistency among the rest of the lineup previously hampered the squad's progress, the acquisition of explosive batter Vishnu Vinod in the auction significantly alters their top-order prospects. Vinod, who plays for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League and delivered strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, stands among the highest run-getters over the past two KCL seasons.

The middle order features reliable performers Govind Dev Pai and Akshay Manohar. They are joined by Sudhesh Mohan, who made an impact in the recently concluded NSK Trophy with a fiery 87 off 36 deliveries. Wicketkeeper-batters Ujjwal Krishna and Bharath Soorya further enhance the roster, providing added depth and flexibility.

Experience and youth merge in the all-rounder section. Senior player C.V. Vinod Kumar and former Kerala captain Sijomon Joseph join the squad to offer stability in both disciplines, alongside M. Nikhil and Abhishek P. Nair. Nikhil notably stood out with impressive all-round displays during the latest NSK Trophy.

The bowling attack appears significantly sharpened compared to previous campaigns. Basil N.P. and Rahul Chandran lead the pace contingent, supported by Vinod Kumar and Shreehari Nair to target early and late-overs wickets. V. Ajith and Sijomon Joseph round out the bowling options.

Abhishek Mohan serves as head coach, supported by assistant coaches Madan Mohan and Atul Diamond. The support staff includes Varun S.S. (physiotherapy), Akhil Chintu (strength and conditioning), and Sooraj Nair (team management). The franchise is owned by Jose Pattara, S. Priyadarshan, Keerthy Suresh, Riyas Adam, Shibu Mathai, Tom Joseph, and Salil Gupta.

Squad: Krishna Prasad (c), Sijomon Joseph (vc), Vishnu Vinod, Govind Dev Pai, Ajith Vasudevan, Abhishek P. Nair, Vinod Kumar C.V., Akshay Manohar, Nikhil M., Basil N.P., Rahul Chandran, Shreehari Nair, Ajeesh K., Bharath Soorya, Sudhesh Mohan, Ujjwal Krishna.