Ranji Trophy 2024-25: High-flying Tamil Nadu favourites in home clash against Chhattisgarh
Tamil Nadu will have a few forced changes following the departure of Washington Sundar (India), B. Sai Sudharsan, and B. Indrajith (both India A) for national duties.
Published : Oct 25, 2024 18:23 IST , COIMBATORE - 2 MINS READ
Tamil Nadu captain N. Jagadeesan during a practice session at Sri Ramakrishna College cricket grounds in Coimbatore on Friday, ahead of the Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh from Saturday. | Photo Credit: Periasamy M/ The Hindu
A confident Tamil Nadu will look to continue its fine start to the Ranji Trophy campaign when it takes on Chhattisgarh in the third-round match (Elite Group D) at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground on Saturday.
After smashing Saurashtra by an innings in the season-opener here a fortnight ago, TN came within two wickets off another innings victory against Delhi. Only bad light and some deliberate stalling by the Delhi lower-order prevented N. Jagadeesan’s men from claiming seven points.
The southern side has made Coimbatore its fortress, winning its last four encounters at this venue by an innings, and would hope to extend the successful run.
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The home team, though, will have a few forced changes following the departure of Washington Sundar (India), B. Sai Sudharsan, and B. Indrajith (both India A) for national duties.
The management has to figure out an opening partner for skipper N. Jagadeesan, while all-rounder Vijay Shankar and M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar could slot in the middle-order. With the pitch expected to aid the spinners, TN might be tempted to rest one of its pacers and play an extra tweaker.
“We are extremely proud of how we have played and the brand of cricket. Even in the last match, we bowled nearly 190 overs over two days and maintaining the same energy was a task, but everyone did it,” said Jagadeesan.
Chhattisgarh, meanwhile, will want to get some points on board, having managed just two so far. The Amandeep Khare-led has the depth in its line-up to give the host a run for its money.
Most of the batters have runs under their belt, and the outfit has a decent spin attack led by Ajay Mandal. In the previous game against Saurashtra, Khare slammed a brilliant double-century while Sanjeet Desai scored a ton. However, the in-form TN bowlers in their backyard will pose a sterner test, and how the visitor’s batters tackle them could determine the course of the contest.