Aparajith, Kousik to play Under-23

Not picked in the XI for the Ranji game against Madhya Pradesh at Cuttack, the two have been told to represent the State in its four-day under-23 match against Bengal.

Baba Aparajith, who figured in the first three Ranji Trophy matches, found runs hard to come by.

Batsman Baba Aparajith and all-rounder J. Kousik have been asked by the State selectors to play under-23 cricket to re-discover their touch. Both cricketers, part of the Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy squad, have been struggling for form this season.

Not picked in the playing XI for the Ranji game against Madhya Pradesh at Cuttack, the two have been told to represent the State in its four-day under-23 match against Bengal beginning at the SSN College ground from Monday.

Aparajith, who figured in the first three matches, found runs hard to come by. And Kousik, essentially a batting all-rounder who can send down useful seam bowling, has been unable to contribute much with the willow.

Speaking to Sportstar , State selection panel chief S. Sharath said, “Yes, Aparajith and Kousik are in Chennai for the game. We want them to find their confidence and gain match practice since they did not figure in the eleven for the last game. Both are cricketers with ability.”

Sharath said Aparajith and Kousik will leave Chennai after the completion of the under-23 match on November 3 and join the Ranji squad ahead of the game against Baroda, beginning at Raipur on Nov. 5.