Sanju Samson, an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman, has been named the Tournament Icon for the Kerala Cricket League’s 2026 season. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) confirmed the news, appointing the India international as the official face of the third installment of the state’s main T20 franchise event.
Samson, a Thiruvananthapuram native, has long been one of Kerala’s most successful cricketers. Along with leading the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has regularly represented Kerala in domestic cricket and has been involved with the KCL since its inception.
In the previous edition, Samson was signed by the Kochi Blue Tigers for a record amount at the player auction, demonstrating his immense popularity and value in the league.
However, Sanju Samson will not play in the 2026 edition due to prior commitments.
Instead, he will take on a new role as Tournament Icon, where he will promote the league, interact with fans, and contribute to programs targeted at nurturing young cricketers in the state. The KCA feels Samson’s participation as the competition’s face will greatly raise the tournament’s popularity while also encouraging the next generation of Kerala cricketers.
The player auction for the 2026 season was recently held, and all organisations have finalised their rosters ahead of the event. The Kochi Blue Tigers kept numerous significant players before to the auction, but Sanju Samson removal from the playing squad leaves the organization without one of its main draws from past seasons.
Sanju Samson appointment occurs at an interesting juncture in his career. The 31-year-old is still a familiar figure in India’s white-ball debates, and he is one of the country’s most experienced wicketkeepers.
However, he recently had a rough performance on India’s white-ball tour of England, with a spate of low scores costing him his place in the playing XI. He was later dropped out of India’s selection for the forthcoming Zimbabwe series, however he remains in the squad for the Asian Games.
