Sanju Samson named Kerala captain for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Kerala has announced its 18-member squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2026/27, with Indian national team player Sanju Samson appointed as captain. Samson, a wicketkeeper-batter, will lead the side in the premier domestic T20 tournament.

The tournament is scheduled to begin in mid-November, with Kerala placed in Elite Group C. Their opponents in the group include Andhra, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, and Tripura. Kerala is set to begin its campaign against Madhya Pradesh.

Samson previously led Kerala in the last edition of the tournament, where the team finished fourth in the Elite Group stage. During that campaign, he recorded 233 runs across six matches with a strike rate of 137.86. The squad also features players such as Rohan Kunnummal, Vishnu Vinod, and Mohammed Azharuddeen.