A blend of experience and youth

TN will not be short on confidence when it takes on Karnataka in the Ranji final

March 05, 2015 01:09 am | Updated November 16, 2021 05:15 pm IST - Chennai:

The struggles of the last two years appear a distant memory now. Tamil Nadu, a powerhouse in domestic cricket, is back in business.

The side that failed to qualify for the knock-out stages in 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons has entered the final of this year’s edition. Tamil Nadu’s progress marks a remarkable turnaround after a rather disappointing start to the season.

The side, a blend of experience and youth, has shown belief and found men for situations.

If Tamil Nadu managed to defeat Mumbai on a turning track at home, the side showed its versatility by getting the better of Baroda on a seaming pitch in Vadodara. And on a flat wicket in Kolkata, the team out-batted Maharashtra in a battle of attrition.

There is much relief in the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association following the State team’s stirring run. Joint secretary R.I. Palani, a hands-on man, has been the driving force for Tamil Nadu.

State team coach W.V. Raman said to The Hindu , “It has been a collective effort so far. The younger cricketers, strategically, have been sandwiched between seniors and it has worked. Cricketers have put their hands up at difficult moments for the side. That is what we needed.”

The strategically suave Raman has been making the right moves. Importantly, the decision to have the young B. Indrajith batting at No. 7 has worked. “He has shown great maturity in batting with the tail. It is not easy.” The talented Indrajith has been a stumbling block for the bowlers after they had worked their way past the rest of the line-up.

Vijay Shankar has been a revelation in the middle-order with his application and range of shots.

His innings of 111 against Vidarbha in the quaterfinals and 91 in the semifinals versus Maharashtra were priceless efforts for Tamil Nadu. He has also struck vital blows with his canny medium pacers.

“He’s got potential as an all-rounder. Vijay Shankar has made runs in pressure situations. He’s also bowling a tad quicker now,” said Raman.

Dinesh Karthik has been pulling his weight in the middle-order; he came up with a combative hundred against Maharashtra in the last four clash.

And opener Murali Vijay, who joined the team after the Test series in Australia, has made a huge difference to the side’s thought process. Raman said, “Just having him in the side gives us the edge mentally. It also sends a message to the opposition considering what he is capable of.”

Vijay’s fourth innings century on a pitch assisting the seamers in Vadodara was a match-winning knock. In the quarterfinal against Vidarbha, he missed a hundred by four runs.

Young paceman Aswin Crist has bowled with verve. “He’s an improving bowler, moves the ball,” said Raman. The experienced L. Balaji and left-arm seamer Prashant Parameswaran have chipped in with their bit.

Off-spinner Malolan Rangarajan, the side’s no 1 spinner, has scalped 33 batsmen this season and often bowled with imagination. On rank turners, left-arm spinner Rahil Shah (27 wickets in just five matches) has accomplished the job for the State.

Raman defended playing on turning tracks at home. “What is the point in only having pitches where the ball seams around from the first over as we have seen in so many matches this season? How is that different from a pitch assisting spinners? We have shown our ability to adapt.”

On the switch in captaincy from middle-order batsman R. Prasanna to opener Abhinav Mukund midway through the season, Raman said, “Prasanna was injured for two matches and the side did well under Abhinav during the period. We decided to continue with him. We are also looking for runs from Abhinav and felt the extra responsibility would help him.”

Tamil Nadu’s previous two triumphs in Ranji Trophy have come in 1955 and 1988, with Balu Alaganan and S. Vasudevan leading the sides.

A member of the victorious squad in ’88 and a State selector now, R. Venkatesh said, “I can’t forget that winning feeling in ’88. We have picked several youngsters this year and they have delivered.”

Tamil Nadu will not be short on confidence when it takes on Karnataka in the final in Mumbai from March 8.

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