Sanju Samson sparkles in KCA exhibition match amid IPL trade talks, smashes fifty in Secretary XI's win
The Kerala Cricket Association hosted the friendly T20 match comprising the top stars from the state on Independence Day after the inauguration of the revamped floodlight system at the venue. Samson was named captain of the KCA Secretary XI, while veteran Sachin Baby led the KCA President's side.
Samson eventually fell on 54 off 36 balls with three runs required in as many deliveries. However, the Secretary's XI squeezed past Baby's men by one wicket, thanks to pacer Basil Thampi's winning first-ball six.
Samson had not featured in a match under the aegis of the Kerala Cricket Association following the controversies that had emerged last December when the 30-year-old was dropped from the Vijay Hazare Trophy after failing to turn up for a preparatory camp. While Samson was in contention to return for the Ranji Trophy knockout fixtures in February, the explosive right-hander was ruled out after a fracture he sustained in a T20I against England.
The Indian Express had previously reported that Samson had expressed his desire to part ways with the Rajasthan Royals franchise. Reports have since emerged with Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders marked as firm favourites to sign him up.
With reports suggesting that the Thiruvananthapuram venue could replace Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium as one of the hosting venues for the forthcoming Women's ODI World Cup, the Greenfield Stadium received a massive upgrade comprising four towers and 392 LED lights on Friday. KCA secretary Vinod S Kumar said that the project was completed at Rs 18 crore rupees.
KCA Exhibition Match Brief Scorecard
President's XI 184/8 in 20 overs (Rohan Kunnumal 60, Abhijith Praveen 47; Sharafudden 3/25) lost to Secretary's XI 188/9 in 19.4 overs (Vishnu Vinod 69, Sanju Samson 54) by one wicket.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
ISL clubs sound alarm to AIFF of facing 'real possibility of shutting down entirely' due to ongoing crisis
A total of 11 Indian Super League clubs, including former champions Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC, signed a letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey which urged the national federation to quickly resolve the ongoing impasse over the league's Master Rights Agreement with the Football Sports Development Limited. The 2025-26 season of the Indian Super League, India's top-flight competition since 2019, could be called off entirely if the Kalyan Chaubey-led AIFF is not able to arrive at an agreement with the FSDL over the league's rights agreement soon. PTI The crisis that Indian football currently finds itself mired in threatens to take an even darker turn in the coming days, with eleven Indian Super League (ISL) clubs warning the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they face 'the real possibility of shutting down entirely'. That is unless the AIFF is able to end its ongoing deadlock with the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) over the ISL's Master Rights Agreement (MRA) soon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The clubs wrote a letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey on Friday in which they added that the impasse between the national federation and ISL organisers FSDL over the non-renewal of the MRA has 'paralysed professional football in India'. More from Football 'Over past 11 years, through sustained investment and coordinated effort, clubs have built youth development systems, training infrastructure, community outreach programmes, and professional teams that have elevated India's footballing credibility both domestically and internationally,' read the letter from the 11 clubs. 'This progress is now in imminent danger of collapse. The current standstill has created immediate and severe consequences. With operations suspended and no certainty on league continuity, several clubs face the real possibility of shutting down entirely.' The crisis surfaced after FSDL, the ISL organisers as well as AIFF's commercial partner, put the 2025-26 season 'on hold' on July 11 due to uncertainty over the renewal of the MRA, prompting at least three clubs to either pause first-team operations or suspend player and staff salaries. 'The 2025-26 ISL season is at risk of not taking place at all. This is not merely an administrative deadlock – it is an existential crisis for Indian football. We write to you in the gravest of circumstances,' the clubs wrote. 'The trust painstakingly built with fans, sponsors, investors, international footballing bodies over the past decade will be irreparably damaged if the league remains in limbo.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mohun Bagan, East Bengal decide against signing letter to AIFF The letter was signed by Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Mumbai City FC and Mohammedan Sporting. Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal did not the sign the letter. Detailing the risk of club closures and livelihood loss, the letter said, 'More than 2000 direct livelihoods – players, coaches, medical staff, analysts, kit managers, groundsmen, administrative staff – hang in the balance, alongside countless indirect livelihoods dependent on the league. 'Clubs face a season where revenue from tickets, merchandise and other avenues will be reduced to zero. Potential sponsors have already started backing out, looking at the scenario that the ISL is in. 'This is a huge financial blow that clubs will not recover from this year and it will affect payout of salaries to players and staff in the immediate future, besides making several stakeholders contemplate a complete and permanent shut-down of their respective clubs.' The clubs said the impasse will also impact India's readiness for international matches, saying 'without a functioning league, our national team will be severely disadvantaged in upcoming AFC and FIFA tournaments'. Why Indian clubs could face ban in continental events They also said that without the ISL, they will not be able to play a minimum number of competitive matches for participation in continental competitions, thereby risking suspension of Indian clubs from AFC tournaments. 'The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) mandates a minimum number of competitive matches for participation in continental competitions. Without ISL, this requirement cannot be met, putting India at risk of suspension from all AFC and FIFA tournaments,' the clubs said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'FIFPRO, the global players' union, has already apprised FIFA of the situation, increasing the likelihood of external scrutiny and possible sanctions.' Also Read | On Thursday, the AIFF had agreed to mention the raging issue concerning the ISL on Monday. The apex court has reserved its judgement in the case relating to the draft constitution of the AIFF. The decision to apprise the SC of the crisis situation was taken after a . In fact, a reliable source said that the AIFF is willing to file a written application if the Supreme Court asks for one. 'We fully appreciate that related matters are before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, from the record of recent hearings, it appears that the immediacy and scale of the crisis have not been clearly conveyed to the Hon'ble Court,' the clubs said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The human cost, the threat of clubs folding, the risk of losing our place in AFC/FIFA competitions, and the reputational harm to India's footballing image demand urgent action on our part. 'We therefore respectfully request the AIFF, as the regulator of Indian football, to urgently mention this matter before the Hon'ble Supreme Court on Monday, 18 August 2025, and to append this letter to present the unified concerns of all ISL clubs before the Hon'ble Court.' The clubs said they are ready to support the AIFF in the case through their counsels though they are not parties to the proceedings before the SC. 'Immediate collective action is the only way to preserve Indian football's future, safeguard livelihoods, and protect the country's standing in the global football community. We remain committed to working alongside the AIFF to achieve a resolution.' With PTI inputs
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Suryakumar Yadav clears fitness test ahead of Asia Cup team selection
Ahead of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel's meeting to pick India's Asia Cup squad, T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has cleared his fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in swashbuckling batter, who last featured in the IPL and was adjudged Player-of-the-Series, had undergone surgery for a sports hernia in the lower-right abdomen in Munich, Germany, in June."Fitness tests are mandatory before Return to Play (RTP) post-surgery. Surya has cleared the fitness test," a BCCI source told After surgery, Yadav had posted on Instagram: "Life Update: Underwent surgery for a sports hernia in the lower-right abdomen. Grateful to share that after a smooth surgery, I'm already on the road to recovery. Can't wait to be back."With fitness regained, the stylish batter is now set to attend the selection committee meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday. The Asia Cup will be played in the UAE from September 9-28, with India scheduled to open their campaign against the hosts on September 10, while the marquee fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan is slated on September 14, both in 34-year-old enjoyed a stellar IPL season, scoring 717 runs and was only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to score over 600 runs for Mumbai Indians in a season. He finished behind Orange Cap winner Sai Sudharsan (759 runs) of Gujarat Titans and was instrumental in taking MI to the playoffs, where they beat Gujarat in the Eliminator before bowing out to Punjab Kings in Qualifier after, he turned out for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in the T20 Mumbai League, scoring 122 runs in five innings. It is not clear whether the hernia pain aggravated during this phase. Suryakumar had an ankle surgery in 2023 and a sports hernia operation as well.- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Sanju Samson To Play At No 5? Ex-India Star On Asia Cup Squad Combinations
As Team India grapples with several selection questions leading up to T20 Asia Cup, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said that if Shubman Gill is selected to play in the tournament, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, enjoying a rich vein of form as an opener, could play at number five which would not be a "good story". Team India faces a lot of selection questions ahead of the Asia Cup, starting from September 9. The biggest question is how Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal could be fit into a well-settled top-order consisting of Abhishek Sharma, Samson, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav if they are to be selected. Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Aakash stressed the importance of a third opener, saying, "I do not think anyone needs to go out. It is important that you keep another opener with you. India did not pick a third opener (in the T20I series against England). They were not even thinking about who would open if either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson loses form. If you do not keep the third opener here, you will have to keep him in the World Cup," Chopra said. "However, if Shubman Gill is the third opener, do you want to make him sit on the bench? If you don't do that and play him in the XI, in whose place will you play him? If that player's name is Sanju Samson, who will keep? That is the problem. You do not see Sanju Samson batting in the middle order. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma will play at number three and number four. Sanju at No. 5? That would not be a good story," he added. Samson has played at the number five spot, scoring just 62 runs in five innings, with the best score of 30*. Chopra also said that if a third opener is included in the playing XI, he "cannot" play instead of Abhishek, who was in fine form against England in T20Is this year, topping the charts with 279 runs in five Tests at an average of 55.80, with a strike rate of 219.68, a century and fifty each. "If the third opener plays, he cannot play in place of Abhishek Sharma. He will play in place of Sanju Samson, and you won't see Sanju Samson playing in the middle order. Then you will start feeling that you wasted the investment you made in the last 12 matches. Suddenly, from being the opener, he is out," he said. Chopra said that getting out to short balls repeatedly during the England T20Is, in which he could score just 51 across five innings, with the best score of 26. "What goes agaisnt Shubman? If you want to make a destructive team, can Shubman Gill become a part of that DNA? That is the big question. Yashasvi Jaiswal can definitely become a part of that DNA, but are they thinking about Yashasvi?" Chopra observed. After the T20 WC, Gill led a second-string Indian side to series win in Zimbabwe, and July 2024 was the last time he played T20Is for India. He ended the year 2024 with 266 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 38.00, strike rate of 133 and two fifties from the Zimbabwe series, improving his stats overall to 578 runs in 21 matches and innings at an average of 30.42, with a strike rate of over 139, a century and three fifties following an inconsistent string of scores in the start of his T20I career. Gill was appointed as Suryakumar Yadav's deputy for the T20I series in July, and as Test cricket took priority, Gill was not picked for T20Is, with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma emerging as India's new top three. Gill missed the T20Is against Bangladesh in October, the T20Is in South Africa in November, and the home T20Is against England in January this year, as per ESPNCricinfo. After the Zimbabwe and SL series, Gill improved his T20I stats to 578 runs in 21 matches and innings at an average of 30.42, with a strike rate of over 139, a century and three fifties following an inconsistent string of scores at the start of his T20I career. The T20Is in January were scheduled soon after a dismal Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and the ICC Champions Trophy in March was priority for the youngster as he was picked for England ODIs, with all-rounder Axar Patel given the T20I vice-captaincy for this whole run of T20Is. The scheduling is still extremely tough as after the Asia Cup final on September 28, the home Tests against West Indies will kickstart from October 2. Selectors will have to choose their best squad for the Asia Cup with an eye on defending the T20 World Cup at home and Sri Lanka next year. Since their T20 WC win, India has been absolutely crushing in bilateral series, winning 17 out of 20 such series. In Gill's absence, Abhishek solidified his spot with a 279-run series (at SR of 220) against England, including a blistering 135 in 54 balls at Wankhede. While Sanju's scores were low, he had smashed three centuries in five innings during the series against Bangladesh at home and in South Africa away. Since the last T20 WC win, among all top order options, Abhishek has been the top scorer and the most tempting one, given his strokeplay and strike rate. In 42 matches across India/IPL/domestic fixtures, he has scored 1,363 runs in 40 innings at an average of 34.94, with a strike rate of over 198, four centuries and six fifties. His best score is 141. Across all of T20 since the last T20 WC, Tilak has scored 1,200 runs in 36 matches and 32 innings at an average of 50.00, with a strike rate of 153.84, with three centuries and five fifties. His best score is 151. Two of these centuries came during the South Africa tour last year. Samson also delivered solid returns and found a new lease of life as an opener for Indian side alongside Abhishek. Since the last T20 WC, in 31 T20s and 30 innings, he has scored 908 runs at an average of 33.62, with a strike rate of 157.09, with three centuries and three fifties. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has scored 1,107 runs in all of T20S at an average of 36.90, with a strike rate of 161.13 and eight fifties. His best score is 75 after the T20 WC win. However, his international form saw a steep decline. Since last year's T20 WC, Gill has scored 893 runs in 22 matches at an average of 47.00, with a strike rate of over 147 and eight fifties. His best score is 93*.So, with the presence of Abhishek, Samson and Tilak and captain Surya being around, the top order is too cramped for Gill to fit in. Just like Gill, Jaiswal played his last T20I in July 2024, with India utilising his Test abilities during the home season and away assignments in Australia and England, where he scored 391 and 411 runs respectively in a series. Jaiswal was the back-up opener ahead of Gill for the T20 World Cup last year. He was the backup as India wanted to open with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Having made 723 runs in 23 T20Is with a century and five fifties at a strike rate of over 164, Jaiswal's 559-run season (in 14 matches with six fifties at SR of almost 160), brought back the leftie into T20I conversations.
