Crucial match for Tamil Nadu in Ranji Trophy

Regardless of the opposition and the personnel in charge, the dark and foreboding clouds of despair escort the team and the attendant expectation about its progression to the knockout stages is steeped in a familiar terrain of uncertainty. With three matches remaining, TN stares at the daunting prospect of winning all those — it could do with at least two outright wins — if it is to occupy one of the two quarterfinal slots from Group C.

In Odisha, who will be its opponent in the fourth round beginning from Thursday, Tamil Nadu can realistically hope for getting maximum mileage and thereby thrusting itself up the points ladder. Odisha, which is lying at the bottom-most rung, was expectedly beaten by the powerhouse Mumbai in its previous clash at home.

TN, which is currently fourth in the standings with seven points, can take much heart from its gallant fightback against Mumbai when its resilience shone through to take first innings lead. The biggest and surprising takeaway from that contest was how TN found an unlikely messiah in V Yo Mahesh who returned to first class cricket after an injury enforced absence of nearly five years. It was his unbeaten 103 that infused some much-needed fillip into a campaign hitting panic mode and gave the team something to smile about after two tepid draws against seemingly inferior foes in Andhra and Tripura at home. One downside or you could make it two, to TN’s imminent clash is the absence of India’s leading Test exponents — R Ashwin and Murali Vijay. 

TN coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar, while admitting that the duo’s absence will be felt, said his team has enough wherewithal to deliver without them. “We are not dependent on individuals. We have a good bunch of youngsters who have done well in the last season when neither Vijay nor Ashwin was available. 

“I still retain hope of qualifying for the knockouts. The game against Odisha is winnable and the team is in a good state of mind,” said Kanitkar. As is his wont, the coach refrained from divulging the composition of the team.