Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been appointed as the captain of Keralam for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), which is set to commence on November 14. Keralam will kick off their campaign against Madhya Pradesh at PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, where they aim to improve upon their previous season's performance, having finished fourth in their group and failing to reach the knockout stages.
The 18-member squad not only features Samson but also includes notable players such as Vishnu Vinod, who captains Keralam's red-ball team, and domestic stalwart Jalaj Saxena. The squad has been bolstered by talents from the Kerala Cricket League, including top-order batter Ahammed Imran and allrounder Govind Dev. Additionally, right-arm pacer KM Asif and left-arm spinner Vignesh Puthur are expected to add depth to the bowling lineup.S1S2
Despite a recent dip in form during the T20 series in New Zealand, where he scored 14, 18, 4, and 4 after a quickfire 67 in the first match, Samson has had a successful year overall in T20 cricket. He was the 'Player of the Tournament' during India's T20 World Cup victory, accumulating 319 runs, including three consecutive fifties from the Super Eights to the finals. In 30 T20Is this year, he has amassed 810 runs at an average of 27.93 and a strike rate of 173.44, alongside two centuries in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.S2
Keralam is placed in Group C for the tournament, alongside teams such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, and Tripura. The squad is now looking to leverage its mix of experienced players and emerging talents to make a significant impact in this year's competition, aiming for a better outcome than last season.S1S2
