Winless Kerala bring in a pair of U-23 players for Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra

After a winless three-game run in the Ranji Trophy that included a humiliating innings defeat to Karnataka earlier this week, the Kerala camp have made a series of changes in the squad.

Under-23 players Varun Nayanar and Akarsh A K and one of the Kerala Cricket League stars, Sibin Gireesh, have been named in the squad for the match against Saurashtra starting Saturday.

The trio has replaced Shoun Roger, Akshay Chandran and Vaisakh Chandran, who failed to impress in the defeat to Karnataka at Mangalapuram.

Left-hand opener Akarsh, 20, scored a century and a patient half-century in the C K Nayudu Trophy. Nayanar had two fifties in the Under-23 event. Right-arm pacer Sibin had 15 wickets from 11 matches in the KCL at an average of 18.

Kerala have managed just two points from the first three matches in the Ranji Trophy this season. Kerala conceded first innings leads in their drawn matches against Maharashtra and Punjab before losing by an innings and 164 runs against Karnataka.

Saurashtra, led by Jaydev Unadkat, have five points thus far after drawing all three matches. The visitors began their campaign by securing a handy first innings lead against Karnataka.

Kerala will be without Sanju Samson for the third Ranji match in a row as the ace batter is part of the Indian squad that is playing a five-match T20I series in Australia.

Kerala squad: Mohammed Azharuddeen (c), Baba Aparajith (vc), Rohan S Kunnummal, Krishna Prasad, Ahammed Imran, Sachin Baby, Akarsh A K, Varun Nayanar, Abhishek P Nair, Sachin Suresh, Ankit Sharma, Harikrishnan M U, M D Nidheesh, Eden Apple Tom, Sibin P Gireesh