TN Seek Home Comfort To Get Ranji Campaign Back On Track

Sai Kishore & Co’s batting frailties cost them dearly in Jaipur, where they slumped from a commanding 203 for four to 274 all out, allowing Rajasthan to take the first-innings lead and leaving them with just one point from their opener.

The players had time to recuperate and bond as a unit in Chennai, with a team outing to watch Jailer 2 movie, before resuming preparations for the next assignment.

“The whole unit is upbeat and excited. We had a camp here, so we are familiar with the conditions. We are looking forward to it,” said TN coach Yo Mahesh.

Tamil Nadu will, however, have to make at least two changes, with Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan leaving for national duty. Pacer Gurjapneet Singh has returned to the squad but missed training on Saturday owing to a family wedding and was expected to join the team on Sunday.

“The wicket is changing daily because of the conditions. We will come and see the wicket on Sunday morning,” Mahesh said.

Uttarakhand have emerged as one of the most improved sides in domestic cricket over the last four seasons. They have reached the knockouts in three of the last four seasons and made the semifinals last edition. They come into the contest after earning three points against Railways in a drawn game and will pose a stern challenge to the hosts.

For Tamil Nadu, the immediate priority is to convert promising starts into decisive performances. Coach Mahesh felt Tamil Nadu had done well to fight their way back against Rajasthan but rued their inability to capitalise on a promising batting position.

“The way we came back on the second day morning, we restricted them to 360-odd. Then, we were in a strong position when we were batting. To go from 100 for one to not get the lead is disappointing. But along with that, we have a lot of positives,” he said.

Youngster Andre Siddharth made a promising start, while N. Jagadeesan and Pradosh Ranjan Paul scored half-centuries, offering encouragement ahead of the home fixture.

“Andre started off well and showed a lot of grit while batting. A couple of our batters, Jagadeesan and Pradosh, got fifties. It is good to know that these batters are in good form. You all know that is the most important thing, and they are also experienced. They understand what needs to be done and what is needed for the team. So, you can expect them to come back stronger,” he said.

The bowling unit's response was another major positive for the coach. Speedster Deepesh Devendran made an impression on debut, taking three wickets in a spell, that helped Tamil Nadu claw their way back into the contest. Pacer Saravana Kumar bowled well, while allrounder Sonu Yadav continued to provide crucial breakthroughs.

“The most important thing of all is that I see the bowling unit coming really good. The comeback was really good. Deepesh had a very good debut and showed his X-factor. In one spell, he got three wickets, and that really got us back into the game. Saravana was fantastic. It is just a matter of time. Sai Kishore and possibly Ajit Ram, if he gets a game this time, can make it a successful combination. The biggest positive is the bowling unit coming back,” Mahesh said.

Tamil Nadu have traditionally produced prolific batters capable of scoring big hundreds and double-centuries, but Mahesh believes that ruthless conversion of starts has been missing in recent years. The coach insisted that the issue was not a lack of talent, skill or potential, but the mindset required to dominate an opposition once a batter is set.

“One important aspect is that, once you are settled, you have to be ruthless. Historically, Tamil Nadu have had strong individual batters who go on to get big daddy hundreds or 200s. That has been missing for the last few years. One aspect I have been very straightforward with the team about is changing our attitude towards how we play. It is important that we go out there, be ruthless, be strong and be tough, irrespective of who the opponent is or what the situation is. We need to do this in order to succeed. That is the message,” Mahesh said.

Reflecting on the Rajasthan game, Mahesh explained that Tamil Nadu had planned to negotiate a difficult period before looking to push the game forward. Rajasthan's defensive field settings made scoring difficult, but the visitors were also dealt a blow when Sonu was run out while batting alongside Siddharth.

“It was very unlucky. Sonu slipped and fell. That was really unfortunate because, if he had stayed, we would probably have taken the game forward. We made a comeback, came out on top and then let it slip. That was the story of the first game. It has been addressed with the team, and we are working on it,” he said.

Mahesh acknowledged that the bowling attack, particularly the pace department, still lacked experience at the first-class level, even if the skills were there. He urged patience as the younger bowlers gain exposure to the demands of the Ranji Trophy.

“It is still a work in progress. If you look at the fast-bowling line-up, it is very wafer-thin in terms of experience. I am not talking about skill; it is about sheer experience, and that matters in the Ranji Trophy. In first-class cricket, experience has its own value, so it is going to take some time in that aspect.

“In the batting department, we do have three really experienced players, and it is important that they click together. I would still say it is a work in progress. We need to have a little patience with the bowling department.

“But the way I see it, it is a great start. Out of the 10 wickets that fell in the first innings, seven were picked up by the fast bowlers. Fast bowlers are very critical in the Ranji Trophy, so I see that as a big takeaway from the first game,” he said.

Mahesh also explained Tamil Nadu's approach to the previous match in which they were chasing a target of around 250 in 50 overs. The team initially intended to go for the target, but conditions made the task increasingly difficult, particularly for left-handed batters against Rajasthan spinner Manav Suthar.

“What happened was, we were looking to go for the target. Until tea, we thought we would go for it. But the left-handers were finding it really tough. Manav Suthar was bowling really fast on the rough. Sai Sudharsan was not able to get runs that easily. Any left-hander would have struggled.

“We made an honest effort until tea. When Manav Suthar bowls and left-handers are batting, the chances are reduced by 50 per cent. We were dependent on the right-handers to take him on, which again was practically not possible. That is why we took a practical approach. But the effort was there,” he said.

The late departures of Washington and Sudharsan for national duty have forced Tamil Nadu to rejig their plans, but Mahesh insisted that the team must learn to adapt to the demands of modern domestic cricket.

“When these players come and go, a lot of things rub off on the youngsters. They get to see India players, how they prepare, how they play, how they approach a game and what sort of mindset they bring into it. These are the things we would like to take away from the experience,” Mahesh said.