Vishnu Vinod has been named Kerala’s captain for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, taking the helm ahead of their opener against Jharkhand in Jamshedpur on October 11. The 32-year-old batter and wicketkeeper from Pathanamthitta steps into the leadership role with a clear focus on encouraging his teammates to play freely and maximise their potential.
“We are going into this season with a positive mindset, and all our energies are focused on the first game,” Vinod told the Times of India. “I want to leave my imprint on this team, but I also want the boys to express themselves and not worry about their spot in the squad.” His approach suggests a balance between assertive leadership and allowing players the confidence to perform without pressure.
Kerala’s squad remains largely unchanged from the group that reached the Ranji Trophy final two seasons ago, but there is a significant change in the coaching staff. Former Goa batter Swapnil Asnodkar has taken over as coach. Vinod described Asnodkar as “like an elder brother” and noted the ongoing efforts to get players to perform at their best.
M D Nidheesh, a pace bowler in the Kerala team, called Vinod’s appointment “an aggressive move.” Nidheesh said Vinod is “a captain who plays for results, very proactive and aggressive, with an out-of-the-box approach. He’s very inventive with his field settings.” The pacer pointed to Kerala’s final league match of the previous season against Goa, where despite a lifeless pitch, the team forced an outright result, ending the campaign on a high note largely due to Vinod’s captaincy.
Kerala Cricket Association secretary Vinod S Kumar confirmed that the victory over Goa in Porvorim, where Kerala won by nine wickets, played a significant role in the decision to appoint Vinod as captain. “The team management and the selectors were impressed by how he marshalled his resources. It was a dead game for us, so we decided to give him a chance to lead, and he didn’t disappoint,” Kumar said.
Vinod’s journey to captaincy included a lean patch a couple of seasons ago, but he regained form through strong performances in white-ball cricket, notably the Syed Mushtaq Trophy. “He was out of form, but he got his verve back after strong performances in white-ball tournaments,” Kumar added.
Kerala’s squad for the season blends youth and experience. Alongside Vinod, the batting lineup features Sachin Baby, Rohan S Kunnummal, Mohammed Azharuddeen, and Salman Nizar. The bowling attack includes M D Nidheesh, Eden Apple Tom, and Basil N P, while the squad also welcomes guest players Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate.
The team competes in Elite Group C alongside Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Services. The full squad list includes Vishnu Vinod (c, wk), Rohan S Kunnummal, Abhishek J Nair, Abhishek P Nair, Sachin Baby, Ahmed Imran, Mohammed Azharuddeen (wk), Salman Nizar, Varun Nayanar (wk), Jalaj Saxena, Vaishakh Chandran, Aditya Anand Sarwate, Anuraj J S, Abhijith Praveen V, M D Nidheesh, Eden Apple Tom, Pavan Raj, and Basil N P.
Kerala opens its Ranji Trophy campaign on October 11 in Jamshedpur against Jharkhand under Vinod’s leadership.
According to Yahoo Sports.
