Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Mohammed Azharuddeen will lead Kerala in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season. He replaced Sachin Baby as skipper, who led the team to the Ranji Trophy final last season.
Baba Aparajith, who joined Kerala from Tamil Nadu ahead of last season, has been named as the vice-captain. The 15-member squad for the opening match of the tournament against Maharashtra was announced on Friday.
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been included in the team, while leading pacer Basil Thampi, who missed the preparatory camp due to injury, has been dropped.
"We have appointed Azharuddeen as captain, considering the future, as Sanju will be travelling to Australia for T20Is. We were looking for continuity in the leadership role," a KCA source told PTI.
Samson played his last red-ball match against Karnataka in October 2025 and is expected to miss the next three rounds of the tournament after he was selected in India's T20I squad for the tour of Australia. Samson was not a part of either the Duleep Trophy or Irani Cup.
The five-match T20I series against Australia will start from October 29 to November 8, coinciding with the second, third and fourth rounds of the Ranji Trophy.
All-rounder Abhishek P. Nair earned his maiden call-up for the senior team. Abhishek impressed coach Amay Khursiya, who is a left-handed opening batter and right-arm medium pacer. Ankit Sharma represented Pondicherry last season and will play as a guest player for Kerala this season.
Kerala is part of Elite Group B, which include Karnataka, Punjab, Saurashtra, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh and Goa.
Mohammed Azharuddeen (captain), B. Aparajith (Vice-captain), Sanju V. Samson, Rohan S. Kunnummal, Vathsal Govind, Akshay Chandran, Sachin Baby, Salman Nizar, Ankit Sharma, M.D. Nidheesh, N.P. Basil, Edhen Apple Tom, Ahammed Imran, Shoun Roger and Abhishek P. Nair.
