CCL2026: Kerala Strikers did not consider me a worthy player, says Rajeev Pillai, addressing team exclusion

CCL2026: Rajeev Pillai was a part of CCL’s Kerala team and consistently performed with the bat and ball. Yet, this season, they did not include him even in the 22-member squad. What changed?

Fans call Rajeev Pillai deserter for playing for Mumbai Heroes, but is that the truth?

On January 18, 2026, when the Kerala Strikers took the field for their first match of CCL2026, after missing the last season owing to ‘unavoidable circumstances’, what took fans by surprise was that one of the team’s longest-playing members, Rajeev Pillai, was not on the squad, and was, in fact, playing against them with the Mumbai Heroes. This, of course, did not sit well with fans, who called out the actor for deserting the team.

Did Rajeev Pillai choose the Mumbai Heroes over the Kerala Strikers?

Rajeev has now come forward to clear the air – he didn’t leave the Kerala Strikers; they left him out. When the Strikers announced a 22-member squad, it did not include Rajeev, even though he has consistently been one of their best performing players, both with the bat and the ball. He then tried reaching out to the CCL organizers and the owner of the Strikers’ team, Rajkumar, with the former stating categorically that the squad selection rests with the Strikers’ management.

Also read: CCL2026: Points table after week 1 of 12th season of star-led cricket tournament

“Rajkumar sir failed to respond to my messages, calls and official email, in which I had sought an explanation about my exclusion, given that I have been one of their top performers. When I got no reply to any of this, I sought an NOC to allow me to play with any other team, which was given to me almost immediately,” explains Rajeev. Despite receiving the NOC, the actor yet again reached out to the Strikers’ team, expressing desire to represent them, rather than another squad, but was not dignified with a response.

All this was happening way back in September 2025 and once it became clear that they had no intention to include him, Rajeev says that he lost interest. As for his inclusion with the Mumbai team now, the actor explains that he has not attended any practice session, and did not even play in their first match. The second one was against the Strikers, which is what audiences noticed.

Also read: CCL 2025 Day 7: Match 14 Mumbai Heroes get consolation win; beat Punjab De Sher

In fact, Rajeev was a part of the Mumbai squad last year too, but then the Strikers were not in the fray. “If the Kerala team had picked me, I would have, no doubt, played only for them. I can’t play for a team that does not pick me. Kerala Strikers did not consider me a worthy player,” he told Manorama News.

What astounds Rajeev further is that this is the first time that he’s had this kind of treatment or rather, the lack of it, from the Kerala Strikers’ team management. Should the team reconsider and have him join the team, he is more than willing to represent them.

CCL FAQs

Q. When is Season 12 of CCL starting?

A. Season 12 of the Celebrity Cricket League begins on January 16, 2026. Eight teams are in the fray, with the winner getting a prize of Rs 50L.

Q. Which team is the defending champions of CCL?

A. Punjab De Sher is the reigning champions of CCL, but the team has been knocked out of CCL2026.

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