The selectors have given the opportunity to four newcomers in the team announced for Kerala's Ranji Trophy matches, starting next week. Wicketkeeper-batsman Varun Nayanar, bowling all-rounder Eden Apple Tom, opener Anand Krishnan and pace bowler Fanoos were the players who are included in the team.

Varun Nayanar

19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Varun Nayanar has been one of the pillars of the state junior team for the past few years. Varun hails from Kannur and was part of the Indian Under-19 team for the 2019 series against South Africa. He is the youngest cricketer to score a double century for Kerala in the Under-19 category. Varun's performance was against Saurashtra in the 2018 Kucha Behar Trophy. In the 2018 Under-19 Vijay Merchant Trophy, Varun scored 528 runs for Kerala with two centuries and three fifties. He was also Kerala's top scorer in that tournament.

Edhen Apple Tom: An excellent fast bowling all-rounder Eden is a native of Pathanamthitta. The 17-year-old, who has been in the spotlight for his performance in the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy for the 2020-21 season, was also selected for the recent Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy. Eden was one of Kerala's best wicket-takers, taking 15 wickets for Kerala in the tournament.

Anand Krishnan: Aggressive and stylish left-handed opener Anand Krishnan has proved his caliber in all the junior teams in Kerala. He is also a KCA Academy trainee from Malappuram. Anand, was in fine form in the recently concluded Under-25 inter-state tournament, scored a century against Bihar.

Fanoos: Fanoos is a right-handed fast bowler from Thiruvananthapuram who has performed consistently for all the junior teams in Kerala He took eight wickets in the Under-25 inter-state tournament.