Sanju Samson named Tournament Icon for Kerala Cricket League 2026 Season

Indian international cricketer Sanju Samson has been appointed as the Tournament Icon for the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) 2026 season.

The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) confirmed the appointment, positioning Samson as the official face of the third edition of the state’s premier T20 franchise league.

Samson, a Trivandrum native and current Rajasthan Royals captain in the IPL, has represented Kerala in domestic cricket and featured in previous KCL seasons, including a record auction signing by Kochi Blue Tigers. But for the 2026 season, Sanju stepped away from the team for prior commitments. Although Sanju won’t play in KCL 2026, he is set to hone a new role.

As Tournament Icon, Samson will serve as the league’s ambassador, supporting promotion and player development initiatives. The role aims to enhance the tournament’s visibility and inspire emerging talent in Kerala.

The KCL 2026 player auction took place recently, with franchises finalizing squads ahead of new season. Kochi Blue Tigers retained key players ahead of the auction, though Samson’s direct participation remains subject to his international and personal commitments.

Samson’s appointment comes amid his continued presence in India’s white-ball setups and follows strong performances in domestic and franchise cricket. The India player has found himself in a spot of bother though in the national team, as he was removed from the starting lineup after a few failure during the England series. Sanju has also been dropped from the upcoming Zimbabwe series but keeps his place for the Asian Games.