Sanju Samson will captain Keralam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The tournament starts on November 14. Keralam play their first match against Madhya Pradesh at PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on that day.
Vishnu Vinod is in the 18-member squad. He is Keralam’s red-ball captain. Domestic stalwart Jalaj Saxena is also in the team. Two stars from the Kerala Cricket League have been rewarded. They are top-order batter Ahammed Imran and batting all-rounder Govind Dev.
Keralam are in Group C. The other teams in the group are Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, and Tripura. Last season, under Samson, Keralam finished fourth in their group and did not reach the knockouts.
Samson has not had a good run recently in New Zealand. He made scores of 14, 18, 4, and 4 after a quick 67 in the first T20I. But overall, he has been in great form in T20 cricket. He was Player of the Tournament in India’s T20 World Cup win. He scored 319 runs, including three fifties in a row from the Super Eights to the final. This year, in 30 T20Is, he has made 810 runs. He has eight fifties and a best score of 97 not out. Including his two centuries in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, Samson has made 1,287 runs in 44 T20s this year.
The Keralam squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is Sanju Samson (captain and wicketkeeper), Rohan Kunnummal, Mohammed Azharuddeen (wicketkeeper), Ahammed Imran, Govind Dev, Krishna Devan, Vishnu Vinod (wicketkeeper), Salman Nizar, Akhil Scaria, Nikhil M, Vignesh Puthur, Biju Narayanan, Karthik B Nair, Vaisakh Chandran, KM Asif, Nidheesh MD, Sharafuddeen NM, and Jalaj. Saxena.
CSK Celebrates Sanju Samson’s 32nd Birthday With Heartfelt ‘Namma Chettan’ Tribute and Special Video
Sanju Samson turned 32 on Wednesday, November 11. Chennai Super Kings made his birthday special with a warm message on social media. They called him “Namma Chettan.” In Malayalam, “Chettan” means elder brother. “Namma” means “our” in Tamil. So the name shows how much CSK and their fans love him. The team shared a birthday graphic of Sanju in the yellow jersey.
CSK also posted a video tribute. The message with it said, “Anbuden welcomed you. Yellove embraced you. And you’ve made it home.” “Anbuden” comes from the Tamil word “Anbudan,” which means “with love.” It is a phrase linked to CSK and their home ground, Chepauk. “Yellove” mixes “yellow” and “love.” It stands for the love of CSK fans.
Basically, CSK were saying Sanju was welcomed with love and has now found a home in Chennai. Sanju spent several years with Rajasthan Royals before joining CSK. The birthday messages show he has already won a place in the hearts of Chennai supporters.
Sanju has a special bond with fans, especially in Kerala. People love him not just for his cricket but also for his humble nature and the way he carries himself. Even when he was not a regular in the Indian team, his fans stood by him. This year he played a big role in India’s T20 World Cup win. That gave his fans even more to celebrate. CSK also posted another message at 11:11, asking supporters to make a wish for their Chettan.
FAQs
Q. Who will captain Keralam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026?
A. Sanju Samson will lead Keralam in the tournament.
Q. When will Keralam play their first match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy?
A. Keralam will face Madhya Pradesh on November 14 at PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh.
Q. Which Kerala Cricket League performers have earned places in the Keralam squad?
A. Top-order batter Ahammed Imran and batting all-rounder Govind Dev have been selected.
Q. How many runs has Sanju Samson scored in T20 cricket in 2026?
A. Samson has scored 1,287 runs in 44 T20 matches this year, including two IPL centuries.
Q. What birthday message did Chennai Super Kings share for Sanju Samson?
A. CSK called him “Namma Chettan” and shared a special video tribute to celebrate his 32nd birthday.
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