Tamil Nadu begins its Ranji Trophy pre-season camp on Thursday with a 30-member probables squad, seeking redemption after a disappointing sixth-place group finish last season.
Tamil Nadu will begin its pre-season Ranji Trophy campaign on Thursday in the city. The selectors have named a 30-member probables list for the camp, alongside nine additional players, primarily fast bowlers. The team is looking to turn its fortunes around after a disappointing campaign last year in which it finished sixth among eight teams in its group.
Former player V. Yo Mahesh, who guided the state's under-19 side to the semi-finals last year, takes over as the new head coach. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Tamil Nadu will enter the season under a new head coach.
The pre-season camp will take place across a couple of venues, including the MAC Stadium, where the squad will play a four-day game later this month. Following the camp, the team will travel to Ahmedabad for a couple of pre-season fixtures before heading to Jaipur for their Ranji Trophy opener against Rajasthan on October 11.
In a significant administrative move, the association is set to appoint a new Head of Cricket to oversee all state teams, assist selectors and coaches, handle talent scouting, and run the academy. "He will be assisting the selectors and coaches and be involved in talent scouting and ensure the academy is run in the best way," said TNCA President T.J. Srinivasa Raj. The TNCA also plans to introduce monthly review meetings and reinstate six to seven permanent coaches at the TNCA Academy.
To prepare players for away conditions, curators have been asked to prepare pitches with grass and bounce, with sessions starting around 8 a.m. to allow batters to play on early-morning moisture. Additionally, the MAC Stadium will host its first Ranji Trophy matches in two years next month when Tamil Nadu takes on Uttarakhand and Railways.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Cricket. Photo courtesy The Hindu Cricket.