Left-arm spinner D.T. Chandrasekar, at 32 years old, is celebrating a remarkable return to the Ranji squad this season. His last Ranji appearance for Tamil Nadu was in December 2015, with a brief inclusion in the squad in 2018, making this call-up feel truly ‘blessed’ to him.
Chandrasekar shared his journey, recalling, ‘After a strong showing in the TNCA first division league last season, I had hoped for a spot in the Buchi Babu tournament, but it didn’t happen. So, my expectations weren’t high this year. However, once I was chosen for TNCA XI, I knew that performing well there would open the door back to the Ranji squad.’
His performance in the recent Buchi Babu tournament was stellar, featuring two impressive five-wicket hauls: six for 83 against Bengal and five for 67 against Haryana.
He emphasized that this comeback is the culmination of ‘years of dedicated effort,’ particularly highlighting his consistent high-level performances over the past three to four years.
Currently playing for Sea Hawks, Chandrasekar stands as the leading wicket-taker in the TNCA first division league this season, boasting 38 wickets, including a sensational 10-wicket haul (10 for 37 against Globe Trotters) and three five-wicket hauls across ten innings. He attributes this significant improvement to the specialized training he received from bowling coach R. Ramkumar during his time with Jolly Rovers in 2023.
Ramkumar guided him to refine his grip, shifting it from the fingertips to the first joint, which drastically enhanced his control and ability to impart spin. Under Ramkumar’s tutelage, he also mastered bowling overspin (which generates bounce and turn) and topspin (resulting in a straighter delivery after bouncing). These, along with his reliable arm ball and sidespin, complete his diverse arsenal of variations.
Reflecting on these changes, Chandrasekar noted, ‘The number of wickets I’m taking has dramatically increased since working with Ramkumar. I now consistently pick up an additional 15-20 wickets each season. With this newfound variety, I feel completely confident bowling on any kind of pitch. That level of clarity simply wasn’t there before.’