Sanju Samson to Captain Kerala in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27

Sanju Samson to Lead Kerala Campaign

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been appointed as the captain of Keralam for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), which is set to commence on November 14. The team's first match will be against Madhya Pradesh at PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Squad Composition and Key Players

The 18-member squad includes Vishnu Vinod, who captains the red-ball team, and seasoned player Jalaj Saxena. Additionally, players from the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) such as top-order batter Ahammed Imran and all-rounder Govind Dev have also been selected. The bowling lineup features right-arm pacer KM Asif and left-arm spinner Vignesh Puthur, enhancing the team's strength.

Tournament Overview and Group Placement

Keralam is positioned in Group C, competing against teams like Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, and Tripura. Last season, under Samson's leadership, the team did not advance to the knockout stage, finishing fourth in their group.

Samson's Recent Performance Review

Recently, Samson's performance in New Zealand has been less than stellar, with scores of 14, 18, 4, and 4 following a brisk 67 in the first T20I. However, he has had a successful run overall, notably being named 'Player of the Tournament' during India's T20 World Cup victory, accumulating 319 runs, including three consecutive fifties from the Super Eights to the finals. In 30 T20Is this year, he has scored 810 runs at an average of 27.93 and a strike rate of 173.44, featuring eight fifties and a top score of 97*.

In total, including his two centuries in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Samson has amassed 1,287 runs in 44 T20 matches this year, averaging 32.17 with a strike rate exceeding 170, which includes two centuries and nine fifties.

Keralam Squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27

The squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy includes: Sanju Samson (captain, wicketkeeper), Rohan Kunnummal, Mohammed Azharuddeen (wicketkeeper), Ahammed Imran, Govind Dev, Krishna Devan, Vishnu Vinod (wicketkeeper), Salman Nizar, Akhil Scaria, Nikhil M, Vignesh Puthur, Biju Narayanan, Karthik B Nair, Vaisakh Chandran, KM Asif, Nidheesh MD, Sharafuddeen NM, and Jalaj Saxena.