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Top 10 Cricketers from Kerala - Top Indian Stars & Upcoming Talents

11 min
Top 10 Cricketers from Kerala

Summary

The state of Kerala has produced some of the best cricketers in India over the years. Some of those big names are Sanju Samson S Sreesanth, Sandeep Warrior, and more. Find out some of the best cricketers from the state who have made their names into the highest level in cricket.

India is a country renowned for cricket, which is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the country. Since the Indian National Cricket team's debut in 1932, this nation has produced some of the best cricketers in the world. Several states of India have produced talented cricketers and Kerala is one of them. Kerala is one of the states which has produced international cricketers like Sanju Samson and S. Sreesanth, who helped India lift their first ICC T20I World Cup. In this article, we will list some of the famous Indian cricket players from Kerala.

List of Top 10 Cricketers from Kerala

When it comes to the cricketers from India, Kerala state has produced several talented cricketers. Some of those players have represented India across all formats of the game. Sanju Samson, who is considered one of the best wicket-keepers in the world right now, belongs to Kerala. Apart from him, some of the renowned women's players like Minnu Mani and Asha Sobhana also have their homelands in Kerala. Let's take a look at the Top 10 Cricketers from Kerala.

PlayerDOBBirth PlaceRoleKey Achievements
Sanju Samson11 November 1994Pulluvila, Kerala, IndiaWicket-keeper-batterMember of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad; IPL captain; ODI century vs South Africa.
Minnu Mani24 March 1999Wayanad, Kerala, IndiaAll-rounder (LHB, RAB)First woman from Kerala to play for India; plays for Delhi Capitals in WPL.
S. Sreesanth6 February 1983Kothamangalam, Kerala, IndiaBowler (RFM)Part of India’s 2007 T20 WC and 2011 ODI WC-winning squads; took winning catch in 2007 T20 WC final against Pakistan.
Asha Sobhana16 March 1991Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, IndiaAll-rounder (RHB, RLB)Made India debut at 33; key player for RCB in WPL.
Tinu Yohannan18 February 1979Kollam, Kerala, IndiaBowler (RMF)First Kerala player to play in Tests & ODIs for India; current Kerala team coach.
Sachin Baby18 December 1988Thodupuzha, Kerala, IndiaBatsman (LHB, occasional ROB)Veteran Kerala captain; scored unbeaten 200* in First-class cricket.
Basil Thampi4 May 1993Ernakulam, Kerala, IndiaBowler (RFM)Emerging Player of the Season in the IPL (2017)
Sandeep Warrier4 April 1991Thrissur, Kerala, IndiaBowler (RMF)Made T20I debut in 2021; 11 five-wicket hauls in First-class cricket.
Abdul Basith9 October 1998Ernakulam, Kerala, IndiaAll-rounder (RHB, ROB)Drafted by Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2023; key domestic player for Kerala.
Salman Nizar30 June, 1997Thalassery, Cannanore, KeralaBatsman (LHB)Slams 6 Sixes in the 19th match of KCL 2025, between Calicut Globstars and Adani Trivandrum Royals
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Who is the Best Cricketer from Kerala Right Now?

Currently, one of the best T20I batters in the world, Sanju Samson, is the best cricketer who is from Kerala. The 30-year-old wicket-keeper batter has represented India in both the T20I format and the 50-over format. Samson was born on November 11, 1994, in Pulluvila, Vizhinjam, Trivandrum, Kerala. He gained fame for his incredible batting performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he is a part of the first IPL winners Rajasthan Royals.

His incredible batting and wicket-keeping skills in the IPL and the international format make him one of the best cricketers from Kerala. Let's take a look at all the Indian cricket players from Kerala who have made a name for themselves in this iconic sport.

10. Salman Nizar | 30 June 1997

Salman Nizar (Image Credits Official X account of Salman Nizar/@salman_nizar)
Salman Nizar (Image Credits Official X account of Salman Nizar/@salman_nizar)

Salman Nizar, who represents Kerala in domestic cricket, was born on 30 June 1997 in Thalassery, Cannanore. The left-hand batter is known for his dynamic batting style and made his domestic debut in first-class cricket back in February 2015.

The 28-year-old batter gained fame in the 19th match of the KCL 2025, between Calicut Globstars and Adani Trivandrum Royals, where he smashed 6 sixes in 6 balls and added his name to the 6 Ball 6 Six Record List with the names like Yuvraj Singh.

FormatMatchesInningsRunsHighest ScoreAverageStrike Rate100s50s4s6s
FC3449153615039.3846.482714541
List A262458982*29.4568.8803488
T20s272245099*45.00146.57022727

9. Abdul Basith | 9 October 1998

A 26-year-old batting allrounder, Abdul Basith, born on 9 October 1998, in Ernakulam, Kerala, India, is one of the best batters from the Kerala team right now. He made his debut back in October 2022 in the T20 format. In the 23 T20 matches he has played, he has scored 335 runs so far at an average of 30.45. Basith has also scored 371 runs in 20 List A matches so far.

FormatMatchesInningsRunsHighest ScoreAverageSR100s50s4s6s
List A20163719026.5094.16023116
T20s23203355430.45135.08012319
IPL1111*100.000000

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8. Sandeep Warrier | 4 April 1991

Sandeep Warrier (Image Credits Official X account of KolkataKnightRiders/@KKRiders
Sandeep Warrier (Image Credits Official X account of KolkataKnightRiders/@KKRiders

Right-arm medium fast bowler Sandeep Warrier, who represented India in the shorter format of the game, was born on 4 April 1991, Thrissur, Kerala, India. The 34-year-old bowler has taken more than 400 wickets in domestic cricket for the Kerala team. His incredible bowling performance led him to make an International debut for India back in July 2021 against Sri Lanka. However, he later changed states and moved to Tamil Nadu.

FormatMatchesInningsWicketsBest Bowling MatchEconomy4w5w
T20Is110-7.6600
FC771392419/752.861012
List A80781024/205.3130
T20s8484784/217.3410
IPL101083/159.0300

7. Basil Thampi | 4 May 1993

Basil Thampi (Image Credits Official X account of BCCI/@BCCI)
Basil Thampi (Image Credits Official X account of BCCI/@BCCI)

Basil Thampi, who is considered one of the best pacers who played from Kerala till now, was born on 4 May 1993 in Ernakulam, Kerala. The 32-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler is the third leading wicket-taker for Kerala and Travancore-Cochin in first-class cricket, with 158 wickets in 51 matches. Thampi was named the Emerging Player in the IPL 2017, where he took 11 wickets in the 12 matches he played for the Gujarat Lions. He was once seen as one of the most promising quicks in Indian domestic cricket, but couldn't carry on with his consistency.

FormatMatchesInningsWicketsBest Bowling in Match Economy Rate4-Wicket Hauls5-Wicket Hauls
FC58981328/883.3963
List A4443586/515.3011
T20s8888904/158.3510
IPL2525223/299.7400

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6. Sachin Baby | 18 December 1988

Sachin Baby (Image Credits Official X account of SunRisers Hyderabad/@SunRisers)
Sachin Baby (Image Credits Official X account of SunRisers Hyderabad/@SunRisers)

One of the best batsmen that Kerala has ever produced, Sachin Baby, was born on 18 December 1988. The 36-year-old batter made his domestic debut back in November 2009. He is the leading run scorer for the Kerala Team in first-class Cricket with 5747 in the 100 matches. He is also the current leading run scorer for Kerala in the T20 format with 2026 runs in 103 matches. He has scored over 11,000 runs in his domestic career, which makes him one of the best Domestic cricketers from Kerala.

FormatMatchesInningsRunsHighest ScoreBatting AverageStrike Rate100s50s4s6s
FC1001585747250*39.9046.14142957456
List A10295326612740.3279.7342226542
T20s1038520267929.79131.9801016964
IPL (3 Teams)20111443316.00122.0300115

5. Tinu Yohannan | 18 February 1979

The first Cricketer from Kerala who represented the Indian national cricket team is none other than Tinu Yohannan. The right-arm medium-fast bowler was born on 18 February 1979 in Kollam, Kerala, India. He made his International debut back in 2001 against the England Team. He has played for the Indian Cricket Team across both the ODI and the Test formats.

FormatMatchesInningsWicketsBest Bowling in Match (BBM)Economy Rate4-Wicket Hauls5-Wicket Hauls
Tests3654/1313.1600
ODIs3353/336.1000
FC591453.106
List A45633/224.7100
T20s1122/338.2500

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4. Asha Sobhana | 16 March 1991

Asha Sobhana (Image Credits Official X account BCCI Women @BCCIWomen)
Asha Sobhana (Image Credits Official X account BCCI Women @BCCIWomen)

The right-arm leg spinner Asha Sobhana was born on 16 March 1991 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. She is one of the best women cricketers from Kerala. Sobhana made her debut in May 2024 in the T20I format against the Bangladesh team. She also played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League (WPL).

FormatMatchesInningsWicketsBest Bowling in Match (BBM)Economy Rate4-Wicket Hauls5-Wicket Hauls
WODIs3332/716.4500
WT20Is4352/95.2700
WPL171393/177.1300

3. Minnu Mani | 30 June, 1997

Minnu Mani (Image Credits Official X account of BCCI Women X/@BCCI Women)
Minnu Mani (Image Credits Official X account of BCCI Women X/@BCCI Women)

A prodigy from Kerala, Minnu Mani, was born on 30 June 1997 in Wayanad, Kerala, India. The right-arm off-spinner is the first woman from Kerala to play for India. She made her International debut for Bangladesh Women in the T20I format back in July 2023. She represented Kerala in the ODI and T20I formats of the game. She also showed her skills in the Women's Premier League, where she was a part of the Delhi Capitals squad. She is one of the best women's cricketers from Kerala.

FormatMatchesInningsWicketsBest Bowling in Match (BBM)Economy Rate4-Wicket Hauls5-Wicket Hauls
WODIs3332/716.4500
WT20Is4352/95.2700
WPL171393/177.1300

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2. S. Sreesanth | 6 February 1983

S. Sreesanth (Image Credits Official Instagram account of S. Sreesanth)
S. Sreesanth (Image Credits Official Instagram account of S. Sreesanth)

One of the famous Indian cricketers of all time, S. Sreesanth, who helped India lift the ICC Men's T20I World Cup 2007 Trophy, was born on 6 February 1983 in Kothamangalam, Kerala, India. The former right-hand bowler made his International debut in the ODI match against Sri Lanka in 2006, and till now, he is considered one of the Indian cricket players from Kerala.

FormatMatchesInningsWicketsBest Bowling in Match (BBM)Economy Rate4-Wicket Hauls5-Wicket Hauls
Tests2750878/993.6243
ODIs5352756/556.0721
T20Is10972/128.4700
IPL4444403/298.1100

1. Sanju Samson | 11 November 1994

Sanju Samson (Image Credits Official X account of ICC X/@ICC)
Sanju Samson (Image Credits Official X account of BCCI X/@BCCI)

One of the best batsmen in the world right now, Sanju Samson, is also one of the most famous Kerala Indian cricket players. The right-handed batter was born on 11 November 1994 in Pulluvila, Kerala, India. He is in the top tier list when it comes to the Malayali cricketers. The wicket-keeper batter is the 2nd leading run scorer for Kerala in the T20 format and the 3rd leading in the first-class Cricket.

The Kerala-born made his International debut against Zimbabwe back in 2015. Additionally, he is one of the few Indian cricketers who have smashed centuries across both ODI and T20I formats. This indicates why Samson has been considered one of the best cricketers from Kerala.

FormatMatchesInningsRunsHighest ScoreBatting AverageStrike Rate100s50sFoursSixes
ODIs161451010856.6699.60133422
T20Is494299311126.13147.98337856
IPL177172470411930.94139.04326379219

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the most famous cricketers from Kerala?

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S. Sreesanth and Sanju Samson are the most famous cricketers from Kerala.

Which Indian cricket players are from Kerala?

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The cricketers who represented India and hailed from Kerala are Tinu Yohannan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Sanju Samson, Sandeep Warrier, and Sujith Somasunder.

Who is the first Indian cricketer from Kerala to play international cricket?

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The first Indian cricketer from Kerala to play international cricket: The first Kerala player to play Test and one-day cricket for India was Tinu Yohannan (Test debut in 2001).

How many Malayali cricketers have represented India?

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Sanju Samson is generally considered the best cricketer from Kerala right now, notably for his leadership and performance in the IPL

Who is the best cricketer from Kerala right now?

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Sanju Samson is generally considered the best cricketer from Kerala right now, notably for his leadership and performance in the IPL

Which Kerala cricket players are currently in the IPL?

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Prominent Kerala players currently in the IPL include Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Sachin Baby (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Vishnu Vinod (Punjab Kings), and Vignesh Puthur (Mumbai Indians), among others.

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Edited by- Monojit Das
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