If success at the junior level is any yardstick to go by then Tamil Nadu have enough reasons to be happy. The under-19 side has been consistent and the recent win in the South Zone Vinoo Mankad Trophy was an extension of the good work. “The facet that sets them apart is their ability to play as one singular unit. They are not dependent on individuals. The score sheet will reflect this aptly as every member of the side has chipped in well,” said former Ranji Trophy skipper and chairman of selectors, S. Sharath.
Presently in Delhi playing the national knockouts, the talented bunch led by B. Indrajith has progressed to the last eight after posting a comfortable win over Rajasthan. The zonal campaign was smooth run as well. Even stronger teams like Hyderabad and Karnataka did not pose much of a threat. “It was a solid all-round effort. Fielding was our biggest strength. The boys never complained and were always ready to put in the hard yards. It showed well on the field,” noted head coach Abdul Jabbar.
The preparation was precise. The likes of Sunil Subramaniam and assistant coach B. Shanmugam had their part to play in sharpening the skills. The camp at the CPT-IP grounds equipped the bunch well. Indrajith had led the state under-16 side last season and he only continued from where he had let off. Averaging 168 in the tournament he led by example. K. Bharath Shankar (231 runs) and opener V. Ganga Sridhar Raju (149 runs) obliged by playing their part to perfection.
Wicket-keeper R. Nilesh Subramaniam complemented the bowlers well with 11 victims. Off- spinner B. Aparajith was the star with the ball picking 14 wickets at a fantastic average of eight. M. Mohammed was also impressive with nine wickets. If the performance in Goa is any indication, the season ahead is full of fine opportunities where the good work can continue. With a dedicated coach in Jabbar to guide their fortunes, the team is firmly on track.