CCL 2025 Week 3: Four more group stage matches await fans of the Celebrity Cricket League when the tournament heads to Surat, which will decide who will play in the semis on March 1, 2025
Karnataka Bulldozers head into the final group stage match in Surat with 3 victories to their credit
Last Updated: 01.33 AM, Feb 17, 2025
The Celebrity Cricket League 2025 is already at midway stage. After two weekends and 10 matches, 6 of the 7 teams have played 3 each of their 4-group stage matches and there’s some indication about who will most definitely head in to the semi-finals on March 1. The Karnataka Bulldozers have won all 3 matches so far and should be a direct shoo-in, as also the Bengal Tigers, who have an unbeaten record so far. Surat will be the big decider for the rest of the teams. The city gets the distinction of being the only one to host all 7 teams of CCL, given that the earlier two weekends were split between multiple venues. Week 1 was Bengaluru and Delhi, while week 2 was Hyderabad and Cuttack.
On February 22, the Lalabhai Contractor Stadium in Surat will have 2 matches featuring the Bhojpuri Dabanggs, Chennai Rhinos, Punjab De Sher and the Karnataka Bulldozers. The first match at 2 pm is between the Bhojpuri Dabanggs and the Chennai Rhinos, both of who have registered only 1 win each so far. While the Dabanggs began with a win and then lost 2 back-to-back matches, it was the other way around for the Rhinos, so they will be in high spirits heading into Surat.
At 6.30 pm (ETA), it’s the turns of the Karnataka Bulldozers to play Punjab de Sher, what with the latter fresh of the victory over the Dabanggs in Week 2 in Cuttack. Kiccha Sudeep-led Bulldozers will, obviously, look at maintaining an unbeaten track record heading into the semi-final, but Harrdy Sandhu’s ‘rookie’ team, has shown that they mean business. Can they outsmart the Bulldozers who are currently in incredible form?
On February 23, then, it’s the turn of the Telugu Warriors, Bengal Tigers, Mumbai Heroes and Punjab De Sher, to play the last set of group stage matches. First up, the defending champions take on Akhil Akkineni’s Warriors, who are smarting from that shock defeat at the hands of the Rhinos in Hyderabad. Last year, the Warriors, who were defending champions then, failed to make it to the play-offs, and while Akhil would want to avoid a repeat, at this point, everything’s down to the net run-rate. Telugu Warriors vs Bengal Tigers is at 2 pm.
In the last match of the day, Punjab De Sher will be back in action yet again and will play the Mumbai Heroes. The match is expected to begin at 6.30 pm, but if the schedule of the past few days is anything to go by, start time will be closer to 7.30 pm.
Karnataka Bulldozers has 6 points from 3 matches as do the Bengal Tigers. The Telugu Warriors, Chennai Rhinos, Punjab De Sher and Bhojpuri Dabanggs all have 2 points each with only 1 victory recorded, so their last matches will help decide the last two semi-finalists based on net run-rate.
The official broadcast partner of CCL 2025 is Sony Sports Ten 3, while JioHotstar is the streaming partner. If you missed any, full replays of all matches are available on the platform.