After the grand success of the franchise-based T20 leagues like the Tamil Nadu Premier League, Maharaja Trophy (Karnataka), Maharashtra Premier League, and the Delhi Premier League, Kerala has become the latest state to introduce a league with the inception of the Kerala Cricket League (KCL).
The first-ever season of the KCL is taking place in 2024 from September 2 to 18. A total of six teams will face each in a total of 33 matches set to take place in the tournament, including the semi-final and final. All matches will take place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Why Is Sanju Samson Not Playing Kerala Cricket League 2024?
However, the tournament is devoid of major star presence as Sanju Samson is not playing the tournament. Samson is not just the only current Kerala player playing for the national team, but he is also among the most popular players in world cricket with a huge fanbase. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain's participation would have raised the hype and anticipating and hype around the tournament a lot more.
With Samson not picking any of the four squads to play the 2024 Duleep Trophy, the expectation was that he would play the KCL, as until India's T20I series against Bangladesh and the start of the Ranji Trophy, he has no active cricket commitments, with him not being in the scheme of things for the national team in Test cricket.
However, according to a report by Onmanorama, it has emerged that Samson requested a break from the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) after a hectic season. Following the grueling 2024 IPL, Samson was part of India’s title-winning squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup and later toured Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The six teams in the 2024 KCL are being led by Sachin Baby (Aries Kollam Sailors), Varun Nayanar (Thrissur Titans), Abdul Basith (Trivandrum Royals), Basil Thampi (Kochi Blue Tigers), Mohammad Azharuddin (Alleppey Ripples), and Rohan S. Kunummal (Calicut Globestars).