Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has announced the Sanju Samson-starrer 15-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season. Star wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Azharuddin will lead Kerala in the upcoming season, while Baba Aparajith will be his deputy.
Azharuddin has been handed the captaincy after impressing with both leadership and consistency in recent years, while Baba Aparajith, who had joined Kerala as a guest player from Tamil Nadu, was brought into the dressing room to add both experience and calmness to the leadership.
Sanju Samson ready for red-ball action, Kerala selects squad for Ranji Trophy 2025-26
The biggest attraction of the team is the inclusion of Sanju Samson. The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman was named in the Kerala squad for the premier red-ball tournament. Samson will play the opening match for Kerala against Maharashtra in Thiruvananthapuram from October 15.
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After which Samson will go to Australia with the Indian cricket team for a five-match T20 series. His presence will be a big boost for the team, as he is in good form and is coming into the match after winning the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE.
Apart from the wicketkeeper, Sachin Baby has also returned to the Kerala team. Well, Azharuddin, who performed brilliantly while leading South Zone in the Duleep Trophy, will now have the opportunity to carry forward that success in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26.
Kerala chose a strong pace attack
The inclusion of Aparajith brings valuable experience to the middle order, while his ability to handle the innings makes him an ideal deputy for Azhar. Kerala’s batting order looks quite balanced. Rohan S Kunnumal, one of the most consistent opening batsmen in domestic cricket, will once again be tasked with giving Kerala a solid start in the red-ball competition.
The Ranji squad also includes talented all-rounders like Vatsal Govind Sharma and Akshay Chandran and Salman Nizar, who was one of the standout performers last season. It is expected that Nizar will play an important role in the middle order for the Kerala team.
Surprisingly, visiting left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma is the only front-line spinner in the squad for the upcoming season. Still, the bowling attack looks promising. Nidhish MD and Basil NP will take charge of the new ball, while young fast bowlers Eden Apple Tom and Ahmed Imran have been included to provide backup and energy in the fast bowling department.
Kerala relied on young and inexperienced spinners Shaun Roger and Abhishek P. Nair. They will begin their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign against Maharashtra in Thiruvananthapuram.
Kerala squad for Ranji Trophy 2025-26:
Mohammed Azharuddin (c), Baba Aparajith (vc), Sanju Samson, Rohan S Kunnumal, Vathsal Govind Sharma, Akshay Chandran, Sachin Baby, Salman Nizar, Eden Apple Tom, Ahmed Imran, Shaun Roger, Ankit Sharma, Nidhish MD, Basil NP, Abhishek P Nair.
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Mohammad Kaif questions selectors’ decision to ignore Sanju Samson for Australia ODI
Meanwhile, Samson was named in India’s T20I squad but did not get a place in the ODI squad for Australia as the selectors chose Dhruv Jurel ahead of the experienced wicketkeeper. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif did not like this call.
Kaif criticized the selectors, saying that Jurel has performed well, but Samson would have been a better choice for the middle order in Australia. He said, “It was a wrong decision to drop Sanju Samson because Sanju usually plays lower down the order, around number five or number six and for that position he is a much better option than Dhruv Jurel.”