Sanju Samson has joined the Kerala cricket team. Three days after scoring his maiden T20I hundred for India, the star batter has started to prepare for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. Having missed Kerala’s season opener against Punjab, Samson will be available for their next match against Karnataka. The game will be played at the Alur Cricket Stadium, starting October 18.
Kerala have started the season well, claiming an 8-wicket victory over Punjab by eight wickets at Thumpa Center Xavier’s College ground in Thiruvananthapuram. Sachin Baby was leading the side in the previous game, but now that Samson’s returned, he’s expected to take over the reins. He was their captain last season, but Kerala didn’t fare that well, as they got knocked out of the group stage.
Samson strengthens Kerala
Apart from Samson, pacer Basil NP has also joined the side. The star batter’s return means Mohammed Azharuddeen will have to sit out. Placed in Elite Group C, Samson’s return bodes well for Kerala. The keeper batter has been in great touch. Samson scored a hundred in his last first-class match, and although entirely different format, his century against Bangladesh in Hyderabad will give him confidence as well.
Prasidh Krishna and Vijaykumar Vyshak will test Kerala in Alur, and having Samson alongside Sachin Baby, Baba Aparajith, and Rohan Kunnummal will massively improve their chances of victory.
Kerala’s Ranji Trophy 2024-25 squad
Sanju Samson (c & wk), Sachin Baby, Mohammed Azharuddeen (wk), Vishnu Vinod (wk), KM Asif, Basil Thampi, Baba Aparajith, Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarwate, MD Nidheesh, Akshay Chandran, Fazil Fanoos, Vathsal Govind, Krishna Prasad, Rohan Kunnummal, Salman Nizar, Basil NP
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