The lineup for the Kerala Cricket League 2025 season final was finalized on Friday, September 5th. Following the completion of both semi-finals, Aries Kollam Sailors and Kochi Blue Tigers qualified for the championship match. In the first semi-final, Kollam dominated Thrissur Titans, winning by 10 wickets. The Titans were bowled out for a mere 86 runs, a target Kollam achieved in just 10 overs.

The second semi-final was contested between the Tigers and Calicut Globestars. Kochi Tigers batted first in this match, but they were without Sanju Samson. Samson had departed for Dubai to join the Indian team for the Asia Cup before the semi-final. Nevertheless, the team compensated for his absence, with Nikhil Thottath’s explosive innings of 64 runs, which included 7 sixes, helping the team reach 186 runs. Muhammad Ashiq also contributed with a quickfire 31 runs off 10 balls.

In response, Calicut could only manage 171 runs. Akhil Scaria scored 72 runs off just 37 balls, but it was not enough to secure the win for his team. Kochi won the match by 15 runs and advanced to the final. Ashiq, who impressed with his batting, also performed well with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 26 runs.

Kochi will be without Sanju Samson in the final scheduled for Sunday, September 7th. Although the team won the semi-final without him, the final will not be an easy challenge. Samson will also miss out on the chance to win the title for his team. He was the highest run-scorer for the team this season, scoring 368 runs in just 6 matches with an average of 73 and a strike rate of 186, which included 30 sixes and 24 fours. Samson’s focus will now be on the Asia Cup, where he could play a crucial role.

This performance marks his fourth consecutive fifty-plus score, following scores of 121 off 51 balls, 89 off 46, and 62 off 37. Samson is clearly flourishing at the top of the order, particularly as an opener, a position he isn’t currently being utilized in for India, despite his impressive form.

While Shubman Gill is expected to return as vice-captain, partnering with the world’s number one T20 batter, Abhishek Sharma, at the top of the order, Samson is unlikely to reclaim his opening spot in the Indian team. The leadership, likely including skipper Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir, likely envisions him playing in the lower middle order, where he has not been as dominant.

These outstanding performances in the KCL are not only drawing attention for national selection but are also generating buzz in the IPL 2026 trade window. Samson’s value has increased significantly, with CSK reportedly showing strong interest, potentially seeking to replace MS Dhoni. With the IPL trade window open, franchises have the option to engage in player swaps or cash deals, presenting a direct path for Samson to potentially change teams before the mini-auction. If he continues this upward trajectory, Sanju Samson’s 2025 could set the stage for Asia Cup success and a high-profile IPL move.

On August 25th, Vinod played a match against the Thrissur Titans. He started the innings and dominated with 8 sixes in just 38 balls, scoring 86 runs with a strike rate of 226.32. His aggressive batting helped the Aries Kochi Sailors win the match by 8 wickets, chasing a target of 145 runs set by the Thrissur Titans, who had scored 144 runs in 19.5 overs.

Prior to this, on August 24th, Vishnu Vinod had showcased his prowess against Sanju Samson’s Kochi Blue Tigers. In that match, he smashed 10 sixes in 41 balls, scoring 94 runs with a strike rate of 229.27. Although his team scored 236 runs, they couldn’t win the match as Sanju Samson’s century proved decisive in the chase.

In these two matches, Vinod’s performance included 18 sixes. He now holds the record for the most sixes in KCL 2025. Furthermore, he leads the league with 181 runs. He is also at the top of the list for most half-centuries, having scored two so far.

Vishnu Vinod, who was bought for ₹13.8 lakh in KCL 2025, is proving to be a valuable asset to his team.

Samson’s memorable innings unfolded against Kollam Sailors in a match held in Thiruvananthapuram. Kochi Blue Tigers, captained by Samson’s elder brother, Sali Samson, were chasing a mammoth target of 237 runs. Samson opened the innings, recognizing the need for a rapid start. He had previously experimented with a middle-order position in the previous two matches, as his opening spot for the Asia Cup wasn’t guaranteed. Despite his earlier failures in the middle order, Samson was determined to make a statement.

Having opened for Team India for the past year, Samson began accumulating boundaries from the very first ball, including four consecutive boundaries in the third over. In the fourth over, he hammered three boundaries and a six in four deliveries, reaching his half-century in just 16 balls. Samson maintained his relentless assault, propelling his team to 100 runs within the powerplay. He completed his explosive century in the 14th over, reaching the milestone in a mere 42 balls. His innings included 13 fours and 5 sixes, making him only the second batsman to score a century in this season of the league.

The match, the 8th of the KCL, took place on August 24th, and it was not a good day for the bowlers. Kollam batted first and scored a massive 236 runs in 20 overs. Vishnu Vinod played a smashing innings for them, scoring 94 runs off just 41 balls with the help of 10 sixes. Kollam’s captain, Sachin Baby, was also not far behind, scoring 91 runs off 44 balls, including 6 fours and 6 sixes. This was the highest score of the season, making the challenge for Kochi even tougher.

Samson, opening for Kochi, started his innings with aggressive batting. He reached his half-century in just 16 balls and then completed his century in 42 balls. His explosive century provided the necessary momentum for the team to win. However, some wickets fell in between, putting the team in a difficult situation. At that moment, Muhammad Ashik, a right-handed batsman, took charge. He first formed a 40-run partnership with Samson. Samson scored 121 runs off 51 balls, including 14 fours and 7 sixes.

Ashik took the responsibility of leading the team to victory. In the final over, Kochi needed 17 runs to win, and Ashik hit a four on the first ball and a six on the second. Another batsman was run out trying to take a run on the fourth ball, but Ashik was on strike for the last two balls. He couldn’t score on the fifth ball, but with 6 runs needed on the last ball, Ashik hit a long shot over the long-on boundary, hitting a six and securing an exciting victory for the team. Ashik scored an unbeaten 45 runs off just 18 balls, hitting 5 sixes and 3 fours.

The Samson brothers, Sanju and Sali, were representing Kochi Blue Tigers in the Kerala Cricket League. The match took place on Thursday, August 21st, against Adani Trivandrum Royals. Trivandrum batted first and faced an immediate setback. Their innings began poorly when opener Subin S was dismissed without scoring, returning to the pavilion. This early dismissal was a result of the Samsons’ exceptional teamwork, showcasing their agility and accuracy.

In the match, Sali Samson, Sanju’s elder brother, bowled the first over for Kochi. The first ball was delivered with precision, landing on the stumps’ line. The batsman managed to play the ball towards mid-off but then made a crucial error by attempting a run. This mistake proved costly as Sanju swiftly picked up the ball and threw it towards the non-striker’s end. Sali, showing great speed, quickly moved towards the stumps. Sanju’s throw was accurate, landing close to the stumps, and his brother, without any error, caught the ball, resulting in a run-out.

The impact of Sanju and Sali’s performance was evident as Trivandrum struggled to recover, ultimately being dismissed for just 97 runs. During the match, Sali demonstrated another outstanding fielding display, taking a spectacular catch with a long dive while running backwards. Kochi comfortably won the match by 8 wickets in 12 overs, with their captain, Sali, playing a crucial role. He scored an unbeaten 50 runs off just 30 balls, leading the team to victory, while Sanju did not get a chance to bat.