PremiumCCL 2024: Telugu Warriors skipper Akhil Akkineni says his team is here ‘for the kill’
The Telugu Warriors have won the Celebrity Cricket League 4 times already and are the defending champions. Akhil is hopeful of winning this time too
Last Updated: 06.01 PM, Feb 24, 2024
Four-time Celebrity Cricket League winners and defending champions Telugu Warriors played their first match of the 10th edition of the tournament on Saturday, February 24, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Interestingly, the Warriors were pitted against the Bhojpuri Dabanggs for a match that was like a replay of the 2023 finale. Amused at this ‘pairing’ in the match schedule, he said, “Quite a game to start off with. I understand why they paired us up; it was quite a final that we had. I enjoy playing with them because they come with the right spirit. Manoj (Tiwari) sir leads them from the front.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the match, Akhil, who opened the first innings despite nursing an injured left hand, also said, “We play to win. I have four stars on my jersey for each victory and, hopefully, there will be a fifth one soon. We come here to play fair cricket, but at the same time to kill everyone out there on the field. See, we are all actors; as long as the game is played in the right spirit, I am happy.”
His injury, added Akhil, is the result of an unfortunate accident. He has recovered, but he admits he’s not at his A-game. “I’m addicted to cricket and I can’t leave it, so I am trying to go out and play my best. As long as I am not letting my team down, I am happy,” said Akhil, who has played all editions of the tournament so far. “Handling one actor is difficult and the team of CCL brings so many of us together. Hats off to them. We come here to entertain and hopefully we are,” he signed off.
The first 5 matches of this season of CCL are being played in Sharjah, following which the action shifts back home. There will be matches in Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Vizag, with the finale slated to be played on March 17. CCL organizers are hoping a north team, the Dabanggs, Bengal Tigers, Punjab De Sher or even the Mumbai Heroes win this season, given that 8 out of 9 times it has been south teams – Telugu Warriors (4), Chennai Rhinos (2) and Karnataka Bulldozers (2) – who’s emerged victors.