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New Delhi: Sanju Samson is set to lead Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, starting on November 26. The star wicketkeeper-batter recently traded from the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2026.
Sanju is joined by his elder brother, Saly Samson, in the squad, who previously played along with him in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL). Saly captained the Kochi Blue Tigers to victory in KCL Season 2 earlier this year. They will now don the Kerala jersey in the SMAT together.
Young batter Ahammed Imran has been appointed as the vice-captain, while Vignesh Puthur, a former Mumbai Indians spinner, and Vishnu Vinod are also included in the team. Salman Nizar awaits fitness clearance despite being included in the squad, and Akhil Scaria, the top wicket-taker in the last two KCL seasons, is also part of the team. Meanwhile, experienced campaigner Sachin Baby has been dropped from the squad.
Kerala are in Group A, along with Chandigarh, Odisha, Vidarbha, Railways, Andhra Pradesh, and Mumbai. They will begin their campaign against Odisha on November 26, with all group-stage matches scheduled at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Kerala, who finished as the runners-up in the previous season, had a disappointing start to their Ranji Trophy campaign, and are currently placed at second-bottom in their group with just 8 points from five matches. They will look to turn things around and deliver a strong performance in the SMAT 2025
Sanju Samson (C & WK), Rohan Kunnummal, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Ahammed Imran (VC), Vishnu Vinod (WK), Krishna Devan, Abdul Bazith, Saly Samson, Salman Nizar, Krishna Prasad, Sibin P Gireesh, Ankit Sharma, Akhil Scaria, Biju Narayanan, Asif KM, MD Nidheesh, Vignesh Puthur, Sharafuddeen NM.
