KCL 2026: The presentation ceremony after the Kerala Cricket League final has attracted considerable attention after a video featuring former India fast bowler S. Sreesanth and wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson went viral on social media. The two were seen standing close to each other on stage, but a handshake between them did not take place, leading fans to speculate about their relationship.
The incident took place during the KCL 2026 final presentation ceremony at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 5. Sreesanth attended the ceremony as the co-owner of the Aries team and went on stage to receive the Fair Play Award on behalf of Kollam Sailors. Sanju Samson, meanwhile, was present as the league ambassador and special guest.
Viral Video Raises Questions About Sreesanth and Sanju Samson
The video from the presentation ceremony quickly began circulating online. In the footage, Sreesanth and Samson can be seen near each other on the stage, but they do not appear to shake hands.
The moment was enough to trigger discussion among cricket fans, with some social media users questioning whether there is any tension between the two Kerala cricketers. However, the video itself only shows that the two did not shake hands. There is no clear evidence from the footage to establish that they have a disagreement or personal differences.
Therefore, any claims about a dispute between Sreesanth and Samson remain speculation based on the viral clip.
Again some issues between both @sreesanth36 @san pic.twitter.com/rJxDyIFzcf
— athul joju (@athuljoju) September 6, 2026
Sreesanth Played an Important Role in Sanju Samson’s Early Career
Sreesanth has previously played an important role in the early stages of Sanju Samson’s cricket career. When Samson was looking for an opportunity to make his mark in the Indian Premier League, Sreesanth helped him get a trial with Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
Sreesanth also spoke to then Rajasthan Royals coach Rahul Dravid about Samson’s talent and potential. That opportunity became an important step in Samson’s journey towards establishing himself as a professional cricketer.
Sreesanth Had Publicly Supported Samson
Sreesanth has also openly supported Samson on several occasions over the years. One notable instance came when Samson was left out of Kerala’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
At the time, Sreesanth publicly backed Samson and criticised the Kerala Cricket Association over the decision. The episode later resulted in the association imposing a three-year ban on Sreesanth, although that ban was subsequently lifted.
Given their history, the viral KCL 2026 video has attracted even more attention among Kerala cricket fans. However, without any statement from either player, it would be premature to conclude that the absence of a handshake indicates a serious disagreement.
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Thrissur Titans Win KCL 2026 Final
Away from the viral moment, the KCL 2026 final produced an exciting contest, with Thrissur Titans defeating Calicut Globstars by four wickets to lift the championship for the first time.
Calicut Globstars, batting first, posted 167/9. Akhil Scaria top-scored with 45 runs, while Ashwin Anand contributed 40. Thrissur faced a challenging chase but Ahmad Imran played a crucial innings of 69 runs.
Imran also built an important 87-run partnership with Sanjeev Sathesan, putting Thrissur in a strong position during the chase. Later, captain M.S. Akhil finished the job with an unbeaten 19 off 11 balls.
The Thrissur captain produced the decisive moment in the final over by hitting a six to seal victory and make Thrissur Titans the KCL 2026 champions.
While the result gave Thrissur its first KCL title, the brief interaction-or lack of one-between Sreesanth and Samson during the presentation ceremony has become one of the most talked-about moments surrounding the tournament. Until either player addresses the matter, however, speculation about a possible rift should be treated with caution.
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