Sanju Samson to lead Kerala in first two Ranji Trophy 2023-24 games

In a recent development, Sanju Samson has been named as the captain of Kerala for the first two matches of the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season. Rohan Kunummal, the dynamic opener, will serve as his deputy.

The selectors have made some strategic moves including the return of Vishnu Vinod and the exclusion of spin-bowling all-rounder Sijomon Joseph. The squad also includes a fresh face in wicketkeeper Vishnu Raj, adding a new dimension to the 16-member lineup.

Jalaj Saxena and Shreyas Gopal, both experienced spin bowlers, have been brought in as outstation professionals, adding finesse and expertise to the squad. The stakes are high as the team prepares to face teams like Mumbai, Bengal, Andhra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Bihar in Elite Group B.

In the previous season of the Ranji Trophy, Jalaj Saxena emerged as the leading wicket-taker for Kerala, with an impressive 50 wickets under his belt. With the action set to begin on January 5 against Uttar Pradesh in Alappuzha, followed by a match against Assam in Guwahati from January 12, the fortunes of the team rest on the shoulders of Sanju Samson and his men as they aim to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

Recently, Samson sparked discussions among cricket fans with his scintillating century against South Africa in the series decider of the three-match ODI series at Boland Park, Paarl, on December 21. He played a brilliant innings, scoring 108 off 114 balls, including six fours and three sixes, guiding India close to 300 on a challenging batting pitch. Samson's exceptional performance earned him the well-deserved title of the man of the match.

With a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, captained by the dynamic Samson, the Kerala squad look poised for an exciting run in the Ranji Trophy. Samson would be eager to maintain his excellent form and lead his domestic side in the prestigious Indian domestic cricket tournament.

Kerala Squad:

Sanju Samson (c), Rohan Kunnummal (vc), Krishna Prasad, Anand Krishnan, Rohan Prem, Sachin Baby, Vishnu Vinod, Akshay Chandran, Shreyas Gopal, Jalaj Saxena, Vaishak Chandran, Basil Thampi, Vishweshwar A Suresh, M D Nidheesh, Basil N P, Vishnu Raj (wk)

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach: M Venkataramana
Assistant Coach: M Raja Gopal