India batter Sanju Samson's exclusion from Kerala's Vijay Hazare Trophy squad has raised eyebrows, especially following his solid performance in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Kerala, instead, named a 19-member squad for the tournament starting on December 21, with Salman Nizar appointed as captain. Prominent players such as Sijomon Joseph, Basil Thampi, and Mohammed Azharuddeen are part of the squad, but Samson's omission remains the most talked-about decision.

Samson, who led Kerala in five out of their six matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, made a notable impact. He scored 136 runs at a strike rate of 149.45 in the tournament, underlining his value as an experienced campaigner in the domestic circuit. However, despite his leadership and performances, the Kerala selectors decided to move forward without the India international for the 50-over competition.

Placed in Group E, Kerala will face Baroda, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Bengal, Tripura, and Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The team kicks off its campaign against Baroda on December 23 in Hyderabad. With a mix of young and experienced players, the squad will aim to make a strong start in the tournament under Salman Nizar's leadership.

Samson's absence could be seen as a decision aimed at experimenting with new combinations or offering younger players more opportunities. However, given his international experience and ability to anchor an innings in the 50-over format, his exclusion has sparked speculation. Some fans and experts have questioned whether this decision indicates a shift in team strategy or is part of a broader plan to manage Samson's workload.

For Kerala, this edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be an important opportunity to make a mark in domestic cricket. The inclusion of players like Basil Thampi and Mohammed Azharuddeen adds strength to both their bowling and batting departments. However, the spotlight will continue to linger on Samson's omission and how the team performs in his absence.

As Kerala prepares for the tournament, their journey without their star batter will undoubtedly be closely watched, especially as they aim to compete against stronger teams like Madhya Pradesh and Bengal in Group E.

Kerala's full squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy

Salman Nizar (c), Rohan Kunnummal, Shoun Roger, Mohammed Azharuddeen (wk), Anand Krishnan, Krishna Prasad, Ahammed Imran, Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Anand Sarvate, Sijomon Joseph, Basil Thampi, Basil NP, Nidheesh MD, Eden Apple Tom, Sharafuddeen NM, Akhil Scaria, Vishweshwar Suresh, Vaishak Chandran, Ajnas M (wk)