Chris Gayle loves Keralam though he doesn’t have great memories of the State as a player. In the only international match he played in Kochi in 2013, the ‘Universe Boss’ pulled his hamstring and was run out for a duck.

He, however, remains enamoured by the beauty of Keralam. “It is actually good to be back here,’’ Gayle said. “The last time I came here was with my family while I was playing for Punjab Kings. I had a great time in the backwaters. But I am now here for a different reason,’’ added the 46-year-old, sporting a custom-made Kochi Blue Tigers jersey.

“To be part of Blue Tigers as a co-owner is something new and fantastic, something to look forward to particularly in the future. I think from a player’s point of view, being associated with a team after a career in any sport is fantastic.”

Gayle confessed that he wasn’t keeping close track of KCL but felt that he had a lot to offer in building the brand. He described IPL as the best franchise league in the world. “Overall, there is a lot of talent in India, so that is nothing new for me to come and talk about. IPL is the biggest franchise cricket league in the world, and KCL can open doors for players to get to the IPL. Having someone of my calibre as part of KCL is huge.

“I can share my views on how to build the league,’’ he said, adding that younger players are now dominating the shortest format. “The game has truly changed. Everybody is pretty much hitting sixes and it is like a free will. It is fantastic.”

When asked about the current state of West Indies cricket, Gayle remarked: “They are in a rebuilding situation right now. They just finished 1-1 in the series against Pakistan. There is a long process to go forward. I don’t want to say anything more about it now.’’

August is the month of festivities in Keralam and it is also the time when the cricket carnival arrives in the capital city.

The Kerala Cricket League (KCL), a project which began as a platform for the State cricketers to showcase their talent, enters an eventful third season and will kick off at the Sports Hub Greenfield stadium on Thursday when Calicut Globstars takes on Thrissur Titans.

The KCL will, however, face a challenge to attract spectators in the absence of its biggest star Sanju Samson, who will miss the entire competition due to prior commitments.

Almost all teams wear a revamped look and the sides starting on even footing will make the tournament interesting. But defending champion Kochi Blue Tigers has managed to keep hold of the key players who helped it win the title last season. Even without Samson, Tigers boast a balanced squad armed with several power hitters.

Aries Kollam Sailors has been the most consistent team in the league. But under new skipper Vatsal Govind, it faces a tough task of maintaining the high standards. Alleppey Ripples made a splash at the auction, splurging ₹11.80 lakh for Sibin Girish. The outfit also acquired Sachin Baby for ₹10 lakh and made him the skipper. After an underwhelming show in the first two editions, Ripples will hope to turn things around.

Titans will be banking on their young brigade to deliver the goods. All-rounder M.S. Akhil will lead the team, which will be looking to progress beyond the semifinals for the first time. Trivandrum Royals hasn’t been able to strike a chord with the fans after a tough time last season. But, a new-look squad under Krishna Prasad will eye a much-improved effort.

Globstars possess an array of match-winners, including captain Rohan S. Kunnummal, Salman Nizar, Krishna Devan and Abdul Basith. They have a history of choking in key games but with one of the better squads, they will be eager to arrest that trend.