Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore will sit out the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament due to a hand injury but remains optimistic about returning in time for the Duleep Trophy, starting August 28 in Bengaluru.
The 28-year-old injured his hand while trying to intercept a drive from M Shahrukh Khan in his follow-through during a first-division club match at Guru Nanak College Ground, Chennai, last Sunday. He is part of the South Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, with their first match scheduled for September 4 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
In his absence, Pradosh Ranjan Paul will lead the TNCA President’s XI in the Buchi Babu tournament, with C Andre Siddarth as vice-captain. Paul had initially been named captain of the TNCA XI, but following a reshuffle, Shahrukh will now take charge of that side.
Tamil Nadu’s spin department has been hit hard in the build-up to the domestic season. Left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram — the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy — is also sidelined with injury, while M Siddarth has shifted from the TNCA President’s XI to the TNCA XI due to personal reasons.
Sai Kishore recently tuned up for the red-ball season by playing county cricket for Surrey, claiming 11 wickets in two matches last month, including a five-wicket haul against Durham that helped the county edge closer to retaining the Rothesay County Championship title. He also played one match for his club team upon returning to Chennai.
Seam-bowling allrounder RS Ambrish and India U-19 fast bowler D Deepesh have also been named in the two Tamil Nadu squads for the Buchi Babu tournament. The TNCA XI will take on a Mumbai side featuring Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, and his brother Musheer from August 18 at the Gojan Ground, on the outskirts of Chennai.
Squads
TNCA President’s XI: Pradosh Ranjan Paul (capt), C Andre Siddarth (vice-capt), B Indrajith, Vijay Shankar, R Vimal Khumar, S Radhakrishnan, S Lokeshwar, G Ajitesh, J Hemchudeshan, RS Ambrish, CV Achyuth, H Trilok Nag, P Saravana Kumar, P Vidyuth, K Abhinav.
TNCA XI: M Shahrukh Khan (capt), Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (vice-capt), B Sachin, M Siddharth, Tushar Raheja, Kiran Karthikeyan, S Mohamed Ali, S Rithik Easwaran, SR Athish, S Lakshay Jain, DT Chandrasekar, P Vignesh, R Sonu Yadav, D Deepesh, J Prem Kumar, A Esakkimuthu, TD Lokesh Raj.
