Basil Thampi named captain of Kochi Blue Tigers; Sebastian Anthony appointed head coach for KCL

KOCHI: Basil Thampi, the IPL star and pace bowler, has been announced as the captain of the Kochi Blue Tigers, with Ranji Trophy player Sebastian Anthony taking on the role of head coach for the team in the Kerala Cricket League. The announcement was made by film director Blasi, alongside team owner and single.ID founder Subhash Manuel, at a function held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kochi.

Basil Thampi, known for his stints with Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, will serve as the icon player for the Kochi Blue Tigers. Sebastian Anthony, a seasoned left-handed batsman who has represented Kerala in the Ranji Trophy and has 12 years of coaching experience, will lead the coaching efforts.

During the event, the team also unveiled its official logo, featuring a fierce tiger and incorporating the colour blue, symbolizing Kochi, often referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Subhash Manuel, the team owner, credited his passion for cricket to his friendship with MS Dhoni, the brand ambassador for single.ID and to Basil Thampi, who introduced him to the Kerala Cricket League. He emphasized that the inspiration from Dhoni and encouragement from Basil were pivotal in his decision to own the Kochi Blue Tigers.

Director Blasi expressed confidence that this initiative would help discover and nurture top talent in the sport, providing cricket enthusiasts in Kerala with the opportunity to witness high-quality matches. He also praised the Kochi Blue Tigers for assembling a strong team with excellent players and coaches.

The team management announced that the cricket ground in the UK, owned by Subhash Manuel, will serve as the international home ground for the Kochi Blue Tigers starting this year. The management’s goal is to provide international-standard training for Kerala’s best cricket talent.

The team’s coaching staff includes assistant coach CM Deepak, a Ranji star and wicketkeeper; bowling coach S. Anish; physiotherapist Samish AR; throwdown specialist Gabriel Ben Kurien; performance analyst Saji Somasundaram; trainer Christopher Fernandes; and team coordinator Vishwajith Radhakrishnan.