In a recent game of India’s premier domestic competition, the Ranji Trophy, Tamil Nadu suffered a tough defeat to Andhra Pradesh, keeping them on the back foot in the standings.
The match, played in Visakhapatnam, saw Tamil Nadu lose by four wickets. Ashwin, the former India spinner, channeled his frustration on X, telling Tamil Nadu selectors to think “role‑specific” when putting together their next squad. He praised the white‑ball side, hoping they can bring some stability back to the team after a hard‑going season.
Shaikh Rasheed blasted an unbeaten 87 for Andhra, the difference-maker in a match that looked like a no‑chance for Tamil Nadu. The Deshas won 177 after the hosts had struggled at 5‑63. Their bowling was led by Sandeep Warrier, who took four wickets. Other bowlers – Trilok Nag, Sonu Yadav and Sai Kishore – each claimed two wickets to finish the game.
Tamil Nadu’s batting collapsed twice, finishing 182 in the first innings and 195 in the second. The only resistance came from Balasubramaniam Sachin, who scored 51, and C Andre Siddarth, who made 33. Yet they fell short of the target set by Andhra.
On the chase, opening batsman Abhishek Reddy played a quick 70, and Karan Shinde added 51, allowing Andhra to reach 201 in just 41.2 overs. The victory lifted Andhra to the third spot in Group A with nine points from three games. Their next fixture is against Jharkhand in Jamshedpur, starting on 16 November.
Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, remain stuck in sixth place in Group A with four points from three matches and have yet to win a game this season. They will travel to Coimbatore to face Uttar Pradesh on 16 November. Uttar Pradesh sit just one slot higher, fifth in the group with seven points.
For cricket fans tracking the Ranji Trophy, the match highlights the importance of resetting strategies. Ashwin’s call for a “role‑specific” squad signals a shift towards building a balanced team that can handle different match situations rather than simply stacking it with volume players.
With the season still fresh, Tamil Nadu’s next challenge against Uttar Pradesh will be a chance to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Andhra’s confident run will see them aim for a place in the knockout stages. Stay tuned for more updates from the Ranji Trophy as teams prepare for the next leg of the campaign.
Source: ianslive
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