C. Andre Siddarth, in his maiden season, was one of many vibrant spots for Tamil Nadu.
| Picture Credit score: File picture: Ok. MURALI KUMAR
Tamil Nadu’s crushing 198-run defeat towards Vidarbha within the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy prolonged the group’s barren run in home cricket for a 3rd consecutive yr.
When it got here to a knockout recreation in seamer-friendly circumstances, the gamers’ technical inadequacies have been uncovered once more. Within the semifinals towards Mumbai final yr, the match was misplaced on the primary morning after being bowled out for 146.
The quarterfinal noticed an analogous script play out, as the highest order surrendered meekly towards a great Vidarbha assault. The TN batters lacked self-discipline and persistence towards the brand new ball when the necessity of the hour was a decent defence to see off the primary hour. The group misplaced 4 wickets for lower than 40 runs in each innings and will by no means get well from there.
The batters wanted solely to have a look at how Vidarbha’s Karun Nair performed on the opening day: resolute in defence, enjoying near the physique, scoring a tremendous century.
The batting unit had a middling time all through the season, and the efficiency right here in Nagpur was not wholly stunning. The TNCA boasts the most effective league-cricket buildings within the nation with good company help. The affiliation even organized an publicity tour to the UK final summer season for gamers not a part of the IPL to shore up their abilities in pace-friendly circumstances. Nonetheless, the onus lies on the gamers, particularly the senior professionals who’ve performed at greater ranges, to take accountability and ship in essential video games and difficult circumstances.
However the poor outcomes, there have been some silver linings too. The performances of C. Andre Sidarth, 18, and S. Mohamed Ali, 20, augur effectively for the long run. Andre completed because the second-highest run-getter (612 runs) for the facet in his rookie yr and scored important runs when the group was in hassle. The success of the under-19 boys within the Cooch Behar Trophy ought to embolden the selectors to take some daring calls subsequent yr.
TN — thought of a powerhouse in T20 cricket and having the perfect state-level T20 competitors (Tamil Nadu Premier League) — failed to succeed in the knockout levels of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for the third straight yr and desires to deal with this.
The group’s greatest likelihood of a title was within the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers, the place it had a strong lineup and misplaced just one recreation within the group levels (vs. Vidarbha). Nonetheless, within the pre-quarterfinal towards Rajasthan, the group was in a robust place earlier than a spate of sentimental dismissals resulted in a 19-run defeat. This recreation was one other instance of gamers failing to ship in essential video games.
A season that began with nice promise following an innings victory over Saurashtra didn’t take off and resulted in a whimper.
Printed – February 13, 2025 04:38 pm IST
