With a mere three points from their first two matches, Tamil Nadu captain R. Sai Kishore has made it clear: his team needs to ‘strike gold’ in their upcoming Ranji Trophy encounters. The pressure is on for a significant turnaround.
“Our start has been sluggish, and the initial two games didn’t unfold as we’d hoped,” Sai Kishore admitted. “Now, it’s all about going for gold and delivering strong performances.”
The 28-year-old skipper acknowledged that the bowling unit needs to elevate its game, noting a clear lack of intensity during their match against Nagaland.
“While our energy was noticeably low at the start, we managed to rekindle that fire on the final day, securing a hard-fought lead,” he explained.
Sai Kishore highlighted individual improvements, adding, “Even for us bowlers, Sandeep Warrier and I only truly found our rhythm in the final spell. These are positive signs. Tactically, we’ve learned valuable lessons about what strategies work for us, and the focus is now on executing them effectively.”
Across the pitch, Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar radiated confidence in his team’s depth. Despite the absence of key players like pacer Yash Thakur and all-rounder Harsh Dubey, who are currently with the India-A squad, Wadkar remains optimistic.
“The incoming players have proven their capabilities in various other categories, and they understand the responsibility of representing a champion side,” Wadkar stated. “We’ve fostered a great team atmosphere, and these players bring a winning mindset.”