Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 10 (NationPress) The Kerala cricket team has appointed Mohammed Azharuddeen as the new captain for the forthcoming Ranji Trophy season, succeeding Sachin Baby, who guided the team to their first final last year. The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batter will lead a 15-member squad that includes a blend of seasoned players and newcomers for their initial match against Maharashtra, as unveiled by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) on Friday.

Batter B. Aparajith, who has joined Kerala this season, has been named vice-captain, indicating a fresh leadership dynamic for the team. This strategic shift comes as Kerala aims to enhance their strong performance in the 2024-25 season, where they achieved their maiden final appearance under Sachin Baby's captaincy.

Additionally, the squad welcomes back Sanju Samson, who has been reintroduced to the red-ball format after a hiatus of nearly a year. His last first-class match was against Karnataka in October 2024, but his participation will be limited.

Samson is anticipated to miss the upcoming three rounds of the tournament as he has been selected for India’s T20I squad for the tour of Australia. Nevertheless, his presence, though temporary, is expected to significantly enhance the Kerala batting lineup.

On another note, fast bowler Basil Thampi, one of Kerala’s standout pacers in recent seasons, has been omitted from the squad due to an injury that hindered his participation in the preparatory camp. In his absence, the pace attack will be spearheaded by M.D. Nidheesh and N.P. Basil, while Edhen Apple Tom and Ahammed Imran will provide additional support.

The selectors have also acknowledged young all-rounder Abhishek P. Nair with his first senior team call-up. The 22-year-old left-handed opener and right-arm medium pacer caught the attention of head coach Amay Khurasiya during the training camp with his versatility and poise.

Former Pondicherry player Ankit Sharma will join Kerala as a guest player this season, bolstering the team’s middle order.

Kerala will compete in Elite Group B, alongside Karnataka, Punjab, Saurashtra, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Goa, and will kick off their campaign with aspirations to build on their upward momentum in domestic red-ball cricket.

Kerala squad: Mohammed Azharuddeen (captain), B. Aparajith (Vice-captain), Sanju V. Samson, Rohan S. Kunnummal, Vathsal Govind, Akshay Chandran, Sachin Baby, Salman Nizar, Ankit Sharma, M.D. Nidheesh, N.P. Basil, Edhen Apple Tom, Ahammed Imran, Shoun Roger, and Abhishek P. Nair.