Sanju Samson has been appointed captain of the Kerala senior men’s team for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26, set to begin on November 26 in Lucknow. The move comes at a time when Samson is already in the spotlight after his high-profile trade to Chennai Super Kings and his strong run in India’s white-ball setup. His recent form and experience make him the natural choice to lead a fresh Kerala unit aiming for a stronger campaign.
Samson’s Role and Tournament Outlook
As Kerala’s leader, Samson will anchor the top order, control the pace of their innings, and handle match situations with the calm that has become his trademark. He offers Kerala stability with the bat and sharp tactical reading in the field. With a young squad around him, his presence brings maturity and direction—qualities Kerala have long needed in crunch moments of the tournament.
Samson has played 91 games in this format, for his side and scored a massive 2217 runs at a strike rate of 128. He has 15 fifties in this tournament, with 91 being his highest score. Hence, all eyes will be on him for inspiration and providing his team the perfect start.
Samson Recent performance in T20s
Samson enters SMAT on the back of a strong run in domestic and international cricket. He recently hammered three consecutive fifties in the Kerala Cricket League, showcasing sharp touch heading into a busy season.
Over the past year, he has delivered impactful knocks for India in T20Is, strengthening his case as a dependable top-order option. His clean ball-striking, quick acceleration, and safe wicket-keeping add significant value to both Kerala and India’s T20 plans.
He played a very crucial role in India’s recently concluded Asia Cup campaign, in which they trounced Pakistan in the final to lift the title. Samson played a vital role, to ensure his team went over the line. And will be considering this opportunity as the stepping stone to strengthen his bid for the upcoming T20I World Cup next year.
Leadership Wave Across Domestic Cricket
Kerala isn’t alone in turning to new leadership. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed captain of Maharashtra, while Urvil Patel takes charge of Gujarat. This reflects a broader shift across domestic cricket: teams are banking on players with strong IPL exposure and leadership potential as they gear up for the new season.
Kerala squad for 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
