IPL 2025: CSK call up Salman Nizar for Trials - Why the Kerala Player Must get a Chance!

Chennai Super Kings called up Salman Nizar for the trials in IPL 2025 a couple of days ago. The Kerala player was given a chance along with Ayush Mhatre, Mumbai's talented batter.

Although the selection of Salman and Ayush are not yet confirmed, the CSK franchise may well be roping any of them in the coming days.

In this article, we shall discuss Salman Nizar, who has been a top-notch performer for Kerala in the domestic season.

Hailing from Thalassery, Kerala, has emerged as a pivotal figure in the state's cricketing landscape, showcasing remarkable prowess in both domestic circuits and the Kerala Cricket League (KCL). With the season in doldrums early for CSK, Salman Nizar may well be the answer for them. Although it may seem a bit far-fetched, its not at all.

Why Chennai Super Kings Must Sign Salman Nizar

Salman Nizar, the elegant left-hander from Thalassery, isn't your typical headline-hogging cricketer. He's one of those rare, under-the-radar craftsmen who quietly churn out runs and anchor teams through grit and grace. Over the past domestic season and in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL), he's cemented his spot not just as a dependable middle-order batter but as the soul of Kerala's cricketing rise.

Ranji Trophy: The Backbone of Kerala's Surge

In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, Salman was nothing short of a revelation. He stacked up a jaw-dropping 607 runs at an average of 86.71, ending the season as Kerala's top run-scorer. But these aren't just stats. They tell a story - of resilience, calm under pressure, and ice-cold finishing ability.

His innings of 112 not out against Jammu and Kashmir was a masterclass in temperament. With Kerala nine wickets down and trailing, he teamed up with Basil Thampi to stitch together an 81-run last-wicket stand - eking out a one-run lead that eventually proved crucial. That knock wasn't just a century; it was a defiant poem, written in straight drives and glances past fine leg.

This season also marked a historic milestone - Kerala reached the Ranji Trophy final for the very first time.

And at the heart of it was Salman, whose calm stewardship in the middle overs turned crisis into opportunity time and again. The southpaw has shown his mettle at the national level with top credentials, but that's not it.

KCL Heroics: Firepower with Finesse

Shifting gears to the KCL, where the cricketing tempo is fast and furious, Salman didn't just adapt - he thrived. Representing Calicut Globstars, he became the tournament's highest run-scorer with 362 runs in eight innings. But more than the volume, it was the impact of those runs that stood out.

In one unforgettable clash against the Kochi Blue Tigers, Salman walked in with the match hanging by a thread. With 18 required off the last over, he launched three consecutive sixes that had the crowd roaring and the opposition stunned. That kind of composure, under pressure, isn't taught - it's born from experience, grit, and raw self-belief.

Even for Kerala in the SMAT, Nizar showed enough to proper his name at a higher level. The soft-spoken, humble Kerala boy is toiling hard and deserves an opportunity to prove his mettle.

MyKhel had a talk with former Kerala captain Sony Cheruvathur before the start of IPL, and he said Salman missing out on IPL is rather a loss for the tournament itself. He also predicted the Kerala southpaw may get into a team during the course, and it exactly happened.

"It's like Salman Nizar not in IPL might be IPL's loss. It's a big statement, I know. But still, Salman, over a period of last 3-4 years, he has been shaping up really well. And the way he is batting now. I don't feel he will be missing out on IPL this year. Some team, maybe with some replacement, he will be part of it," Cheruvathur said at that time to MyKhel.

The suspense shall end soon, and it is to be seen if Salman finds his maiden IPL team. But que sera sera, the IPL extravaganza will soon have a test of the Kerala southpaw!