Kerala unveils squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26; Sanju Samson to lead

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The much-anticipated Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, India’s premier domestic T20 tournament, is set to kick off, and all eyes are on the Kerala squad. Led by the dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, the team boasts a blend of established IPL stars and promising domestic talents. With a renewed focus on T20 performance ahead of the IPL 2026 auction and the T20 World Cup, Kerala will be looking to make a deep run from their base in Lucknow.

Samson’s appointment as captain for the SMAT campaign comes hot on the heels of a major career move—his high-profile trade to the five-time IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This tournament offers Samson a crucial platform to demonstrate his leadership and batting prowess. Fresh off a successful run with the national team at the recent Asia Cup T20, his form and temperament will be key to Kerala’s success in the tournament.

This will be a vital preparatory phase for Samson, who is actively vying for a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. His experience and big-match mentality will be invaluable for mentoring the younger members of the squad. The team is being guided by the experienced former India batter Amay Khurasiya as the Head Coach.

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Kerala has been placed in Elite Group A for the league stage, and they will play all their matches in Lucknow. This group is highly competitive, featuring some of the biggest names in Indian domestic cricket. The team will face a stern test from the outset, particularly against the domestic powerhouses of Mumbai and the consistent performers like Vidarbha and Andhra. The goal will be to finish among the top two teams in the group to secure a direct qualification to the knockout stages, which have been renamed the Super League for this edition.

Kerala squad for SMAT 2025-26: Sanju Samson (C and WK), Rohan S Kunnummal, Mohammed Azharuddeen M (WK), Ahammed Imran (VC), Vishnu Vinod (WK), Nidheesh M.D, Asif KM, Akhil Scaria, Biju Narayanan N., Ankit Sharma, Krishna Devan R.J, Abdul Bazith P.A, Sharafuddeen N.M,

Sibin P Gireesh, Krishna Prasad, Saly Samson, Vignesh Puthur, Salman Nizar.

Also READ: Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube and other stars headline Mumbai’s squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26