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Sanju Samson snubbed as Kerala name 18-member squad for Ranji opener

Kerala Cricket Association has unveiled an 18-player squad for their Ranji Trophy opener against Jharkhand, omitting star players Sanju Samson and his brother Saly Samson. The absence of Sanju Samson is attributed to his commitment to India’s five-match T20I series against the West Indies, which runs until October 17, while Saly Samson remains unsigned for first-class cricket.

Vishnu Vinod has been named as the new captain, replacing Mohammed Azharuddeen, who had led the team in the previous season. Despite the absence of the Samson brothers, Kerala’s lineup includes experienced campaigners like Sachin Baby, Jalaj Saxena, and Basil N P, alongside emerging talents, forming a balanced team for the match in Jamshedpur.

Kerala, who reached their first-ever Ranji Trophy final last season, remain strong contenders for another deep run in the tournament.

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