The Ranji Trophy has proved elusive for Tamil Nadu over the last 29 years.
As the State team prepares for a fresh campaign — beginning against Andhra here from October 6 — let us do a SWOT analysis of the side.
Strengths: The return of R. Ashwin and M. Vijay, at least for the initial matches, gives Tamil Nadu match-winners. In Vijay and skipper Abhinav Mukund, the team has a solid right-left opening combination.
There is meat in the top and middle-order with Kaushik Gandhi, B. Aparajith, and B. Indrajith in the ranks. Once Dinesh Karthik and Vijay Shankar return from their India and India-A commitments, the batting will become stronger.
The all-rounders, Ashwin, Washington Sundar and Vijay Shankar lend depth and balance to the side.
With Ashwin around, the side has a spin spearhead. Washington, an improving off-spinner, and the two left-armers Rahil Shah and Sai Kishore give the selectors options.
The lively K. Vignesh could make inroads with his off-stump line and movement. The nippy T. Natarajan, once he regains fitness, should provide variety. The left-armer could also create footmarks for the off-spinners to exploit.
Weaknesses: The side has been found wanting mentally in the big games under pressure. For all its talent, Tamil’s last Ranji Trophy triumph came way back in 1988. On several occasions, the side has lost from winning positions, not showing the killer instinct.
Tamil Nadu has also displayed a rather defensive mind-set in the knockout games. Take for instance, the selection blunder in the Ranji semifinal last season when the side picked an additional batsman for a specialist spinner on a dry surface against Mumbai.
Tamil Nadu bowled last on a wearing pitch, but did not have the right attack to drive home the advantage. The side, rather inexplicably, has suffered due to mistakes such as losing wickets in bunches to casual stroke-play or bowlers not bowling in partnerships.
The lack of a wrist spinner, who can extract turn on any surface, could hurt the side.
Opportunities: Tamil Nadu has the chance to exorcise the demons of the past and finally regain the Ranji Trophy. That would be the biggest incentive for a new generation of players. The season may also enable youngsters like Washington Sundar and Sai Kishore to grow in stature and develop their game in the longer format.
Threats: Injuries will worry Tamil Nadu. Pace spearhead Aswin Crist is already out for most part of the season with a back injury and Natarajan is grappling with fitness issues. The side could be without Ashwin and Vijay during the climactic phase of the league and the knock-out stages. Tamil Nadu has also tended to play its home matches under pressure.
The fixtures:
Oct 6: vs Andhra (Chennai), Oct. 14: vs Tripura (Chennai), Oct 24: vs Mumbai (Mumbai), Nov 9: vs Odisha (Cuttack), Nov 17: vs Madhya Pradesh (Chennai), Nov 25: vs Baroda (Chennai).
