Fitness standards and workload management central to Tamil Nadu’s plans, says Vasudeva Das

As Tamil Nadu prepares for the upcoming domestic season, starting with the All India Buchi Babu tournament on Monday, where it will field two teams, the chairman of the selection committee, K. Shri Vasudeva Das, is optimistic about the challenges ahead.

“Last year, we played some consistent cricket despite many injuries. We should continue on that and build on what we have done over the past couple of years. I am confident that we are going to have a good season,” Vasudeva Das told The Hindu.

TN lost in the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy to eventual champion Vidarbha earlier this year. The team had to deal with injuries, mainly to its fast bowlers, and it is something the think-tank has worked to address.

“We have taken some measures which have been implemented by the TNCA Academy, setting protocols and standards. Being the heartbeat of TN cricket, the TNCA Academy, along with the coaches, is very particular that the players meet those requirements, and I think it is on track. They have set fitness standards from the beginning of the season. The moment the season got over, we had a summer camp during the IPL time,” added the former TN middle-order batter.

A part of that process is workload management, and pacers Sandeep Warrier and Gurjapneet Singh have been rested for the pre-season competition, considering the schedule ahead.

In the last two seasons, TN has handed out debuts to quite a few youngsters, including teenagers like pacer R.D. Pranav Ragavendra and C. Andre Siddarth, who finished as the second-highest scorer for the side in Ranji Trophy.

Last year, the under-19 boys won the Cooch Behar title, and four of them will be in action next week. Vasudeva Das, who was a junior committee chairman for three years before joining the senior set-up last year, is excited about the talent pool.

“We had set certain things in place in junior cricket, which helped us play consistently. This built us up to winning the title. So, a similar approach would be useful in the senior level, and we are on the right track. The youngsters pushing the seniors and transitioning into professional level is happening much quicker than it was a couple of years ago,” opined Vasudeva Das.