CCL 2026 semi-final 1: Rahul powers Bengal Tigers into the final with scintillating win over Kerala Strikers

What would be a good enough target to defend in Coimbatore? 226 has been comfortably chased down at the same ground. That must have played hard on the minds of the Kerala Strikers when they came in to bat. But all that they could get to was 177, setting a target of 178, against a team that had already beaten them once this season. Until the 17th over in the Bengal Tigers' innings, it seemed that they'd run out of steam, until Rahul came along and got 40 runs of only 11 and sealed the deal for his team. 

Kerala Strikers set target, but will it be enough?

Were the Kerala Strikers feeling the pressure of the semi-final? That’s the impression one got when skipper Unni Mukundan and Arjun opened and gave the team a very slow start. At the end of 5 overs, they’d made 25 runs only. But in the last over of power play, Unni decided to step on the gas, getting the team’s first 6 of the match and eventually 16 of that over.

It took Jammy Banerjee to come into the attack to give the Tigers the break they were looking for. Bowling the 10th over, he first sent Unni back to the dug-out, and in the very next bowl, Jean was also back, bringing the Strikers’ most effective and dependable batsman, Madan Mohan to the crease. Madan is at No.5 currently on the list of CCL 2026 top batsmen and the highest scorer for his team so far.

Despite those two quick setbacks, Arjun and Madan went about business as usual, pummelling the Tigers’ bowlers to the boundary and beyond every time an opportunity was presented. Arjun got his 50 in 32 balls and it seemed that Madan was also gunning for such milestones, but then Jammy came back into the attack and ended his innings. The score, 125 for the loss of 3 wickets in 13.4 overs.

Also read: CCL 2026 semi-final 2: Karnataka Bulldozers vs Chennai Kings; head-to-head, schedule and live stream 

Two overs later, Arjun mistimed a Rahul delivery that landed in the safe hands of Yusuf. Eventually, all that the Strikers could muster was 177 for the loss of 6 largely owing to the disciplined bowling of the Tigers, especially Rahul and Jammy.

Bengal Tigers huff and puff and then comes Rahul

The Strikers struck early, when Unni brought himself in to open the bowling and sent Indrashish back on a duck. The temptation for Jammy would have been to go for the big hits and chip away at that total fast, but this was not that day. Instead, he ditched his more flamboyant style. By the half way mark, the Tigers were at 84 for the loss of 3 only, with Jammy on 49 of 39.

Six overs later, the Tigers had lost only 1 more wicket in the form of Yusuf, but that was not much relief, with both Jisshu and Jammy struggling. Jisshu nursing an injury and operating with a runner, and Jammy just not finding the middle of his bat. Of course, the bowling by the Strikers was also extremely disciplined, giving the Tigers no joy.

Jammy departed in the 17th over, making only 64, bringing Rahul to the crease. But was it too late for him to make any difference? Singles were not going to cut it. Three 6’s later, they needed 18 from the last over; there was still hope. Bineesh Kodiyeri came in to bowl the last over, but with 2 balls to spare, Rahul got them into the final.

In the second semi-final of Season 12 of the Celebrity Cricket League, it is the turn of the Karnataka Bulldozers and Vels Chennai Kings. The match will be streamed live on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium also.

CCL FAQs

Q. Where to watch CCL2026?

A. Season 12 of the Celebrity Cricket League began on January 16, 2026 and goes on till February 1. Eight teams are in the fray, with the winner getting a prize of Rs 50L. The matches are being live streamed on JioHotstar (available via OTTplay Premium also).

Q. Which team won CCL2025?

A. Punjab De Sher won CCL2025, but the team has already been knocked out of CCL2026, having lost two of its three group stage matches.