Sreesanth and Sanju ignore each other at KCL 2026 event, sparking rift rumours | WATCH
Thiruvananthapuram: Malayali cricketers Sanju Samson and S Sreesanth completely ignored one another during the presentation ceremony of the Kerala Cricket League 2026 (KCL), sparking widespread discussion across social media platforms.
The dramatic sequence of events unfolded following the KCL final on Saturday, where Thrissur Titans secured their maiden title by defeating Calicut Globstars.
Sreesanth, who serves as the co-owner and mentor of Aries Kollam Sailors, took to the stage to collect the Fair Play Award on behalf of his franchise. Footage from the event shows Sreesanth shaking hands with all the dignitaries present on stage whilst completely bypassing Sanju Samson, who was attending as the brand ambassador for the league. Sanju, standing alongside other officials with the trophy, similarly did not acknowledge Sreesanth.
Although intense speculation has mounted among cricket supporters regarding a possible fallout between the duo, neither Sanju Samson nor Sreesanth has issued an official statement addressing the incident.
The two cricketers have shared a close personal and professional relationship since the early stages of Sanju's career. Sanju made his senior debut for the Kerala state team under Sreesanth’s captaincy. Acting as a mentor, Sreesanth played a pivotal role in securing trials for Sanju with the Rajasthan Royals, where he caught the attention of Rahul Dravid, a turning point that led to his selection for the Indian Premier League franchise.
In the past, Sreesanth has consistently stood up in support of Sanju whenever the latter faced exclusion from the national squad. Sreesanth even served a suspension imposed by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) after publicly criticising the board for dropping Sanju from domestic teams.
The awkward encounter at the KCL presentation stage has strongly reinforced suspicions of a major rift between the long-time allies, leaving fans and the wider cricketing fraternity stunned.