Sanju Samson will not feature in the 2026 season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL), with the star wicketkeeper-batter missing from both the retentions and the auction list. The decision came after Samson informed Kochi Blue Tigers and the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) that he had personal commitments and would not be available for the third edition of the tournament.
The Kochi-based franchise had signed Samson for a record Rs. 26.80 lakh in the previous season, and he made a strong impact with the bat. Playing three matches under the captaincy of his brother Saly, Samson scored 221 runs and remained one of the biggest attractions of the league.
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Confirming his absence, KCL governing council chairman Nazar Machan said the franchise had already been informed about Samson’s unavailability. “Sanju had informed the Kochi Blue Tigers and KCA about his unavailability for the third edition of the KCL because of prior commitments. So it wasn’t a surprise that he was released by Kochi Blue Tigers ahead of the auction. He is a big star and his absence will be felt,” Machan told Sportstar.
Sanju Samson will not feature in the third season of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) due to personal reasons 🚨
👉 The third season will be held from August 20 to September 5 at Sports Hub Greenfield Stadium.
More details: https://t.co/oYlibwYYvT
📸: Nirmal Harindran pic.twitter.com/Y4moxiB4vZ
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) July 7, 2026
Samson’s last KCL appearance came at a time when he was fighting to hold on to his place in India’s T20I setup ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup. He was eventually pushed into the middle order, while Shubman Gill took over as vice-captain and emerged as India’s new opener.
The latest update arrives at a time when Samson is once again under the spotlight in India’s T20 plans. Despite being named Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup, he was dropped after three low scores during the England tour and later left out of the Zimbabwe T20I series. That decision sparked major debate, with the BCCI not clarifying whether he had been rested or dropped.
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However, there may still be a path back for Samson. Head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Tuesday that being left out does not rule out a return, keeping the door open for the Kerala star ahead of the fourth T20I against England.
