Tamil Nadu’s quest for Ranji begins in right earnest

Only limited success ensued at the great cost of a host of personnel changes and heads being placed on the chopping block, but the team for its opening clash against Andhra at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, looks to be in safe hands with the inclusion of Indian mainstays R Ashwin and Murali Vijay. 

As has been the emerging trend, both the rival camps remained tight-lipped about the likely starting eleven and despite the supposed gulf in experience, the host captain Abhinav Mukund was in no mood to wish away the threat that Andhra could pose. 

“We have a strong team this year, with a couple of international players returning to the fold. Many players from last season’s squad are more experienced now having played in India ‘A’ teams and other premier domestic competitions. The team looks in good shape and we are keen on playing a positive brand of cricket,” said the 27-year-old. 

It may have fallen short of its stated goal of winning the trophy last season, but there is no denying that a young TN outfit surprised many, including perhaps itself, as it made it to the last four. It didn’t baulk at the frightening prospect of a treacherous trek up the hilly terrain in faraway lands in Himachal and Haryana, and resembled a well-oiled machine until the wheels fell off at the hands of a familiar conqueror in Mumbai. At a time and in an age where the relevance of Duleep Trophy is being questioned and devalued, Abhinav emphasised that performing well in the Ranji Trophy remains the best avenue to book an India berth. “I have always prioritised doing well in Ranji and I have worked my socks off to make a case for myself. The selectors have rewarded my performances in this format and its importance to players like me can’t be overemphasised,” added Abhinav. 

Abhinav justified the inclusion of rookie spinner R Sai Kishore in the squad and said he earned his spot on the strength of his commendable effort in the TNCA First Division league. “He (Sai Kishore) has been doing consistently well in the last couple of seasons. He picked up 25 wickets this year already for Grand Slam CC and last year he took 40 scalps. He also did well in the second edition of TNPL,” mentioned the TN skipper, before welcoming the inclusion of the experienced duo in Ashwin and Vijay. 

Touted as an underdog in the clash of the southern foes, Abhinav’s counterpart Hanuma Vihari refrained from making any public assertions other than hoping that his team will measure up to the required standard that this format demands.