Karun Nair has been named captain of Coastal Kings Mangaluru for the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Season 5, the franchise announced at a press conference in Mangaluru on 14 June. The event also marked the unveiling of the team's inaugural squad, leadership group, official jersey, and team anthem ahead of the franchise's maiden campaign in the tournament.

Key Developments at the Launch

The jersey was unveiled by B.N. Madhukar, Honorary Treasurer of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), while Avinash Vaidya, Managing Committee Member of the KSCA, launched the official team anthem. Also present were Dr. Srikanth Rai, Chairman of the KSCA Mangalore Zone, and franchise owner Vinod Naidu, Director of Manyata Developers. Kannada and Tulu film actor Roopesh Shetty was among the prominent attendees.

What Karun Nair Said

Nair expressed enthusiasm at leading the side in its debut season. 'The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 is a great platform for players across Karnataka to showcase their talent. I'm really privileged to be named captain of Coastal Kings Mangaluru and would like to thank Vinod sir and everyone involved with the franchise for their faith in me. Our focus will be on playing good cricket, giving our best in every game and trying to bring the trophy home to Mangaluru,' he said.

Shreyas Gopal's Message to Fans

Senior spinner Shreyas Gopal, another key member of the squad, spoke about the players who shaped his cricketing journey. 'Like most players of my generation, I grew up watching Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble. They were the people who really inspired me to pursue cricket in a much more serious way,' he said. Gopal also urged supporters to turn out in force: 'To all the Coastal Kings Mangaluru fans, I want you to come out in large numbers, support us and cheer for us. We promise to put our best efforts forward, play good cricket and put on a great show for you.'

The Franchise's Vision for Coastal Karnataka

Owner Vinod Naidu outlined a mandate that extends beyond the tournament itself. 'We are proud to become the new franchise of this beautiful city, Mangaluru. We are not only representing Mangaluru, but the entire coastal region of Karnataka, and that's why we call it Coastal Kings Mangaluru. Our vision is pretty clear — under the direction of KSCA, we want to promote grassroots cricket in this region,' he said. Naidu added that the franchise intends to stay connected with grassroots cricketers across coastal Karnataka beyond the tournament window.

Tournament Schedule and Full Squad

The fifth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 runs from 20 June to 12 July, with matches across Mysuru, Hubballi, and Bengaluru. Coastal Kings Mangaluru's 18-member squad is: Karun Nair, Shreyas Gopal, Koushik V, Suraj Ahuja, Venkatesh M, Nikin Jose SJ, Dheeraj Gowda, Santokh Singh, Kushaal M Wadhwani, Aadharsh SJ, Anvay Dravid, Karthik CA, Rajvir Wadhwa, Sidharth Akhil, Rathan BR, Prithviraj Shekhawat, Arya J Gowda, and Aaron Cyril Christie. The side will be coached by Ganesh Satish. As a new entrant, the franchise will be looking to make an immediate impact on a competition that has grown steadily since its inception.