A campaign that ended in semi-final heartbreak for Tamil Nadu has now been jolted by coach Sulakshan Kulkarni‘s remark that his team lost the match right at the toss on the opening day. Sulakshan Kulkarni made it clear in no uncertain terms the captain, R Sai Kishore, made the call despite conventional wisdom and his own knowledge of conditions having played and coached for Mumbai, suggesting they should’ve bowled first.
Sai Kishore’s decision to bat first backfired spectacularly as TN were tottering at 42 for 5. They were eventually bowled out for 146. Then they had Mumbai reeling at 106 for 7, before a century from Shardul Thakur hauled Mumbai out of a tricky situation. They eventually managed to make 378, which all but ensured TN were batted out of the game.
Tamil Nadu’s horrendous collapse angers coach Sulakshan Kulkarni as Mumbai reaches their 48th Ranji Final
Mumbaikar Sulakshan Kulkarni, who took over coaching duties of Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2023-24 domestic season, lamented skipper Sai Kishore’s decision to bat first after winning the toss against Mumbai on a greenish pitch at the BKC ground.
Tamil Nadu suffered a horrendous collapse on the opening day, eventually being bundled out by Mumbai for a paltry 146. In reply, Sai Kishore’s five-wicket haul raised some hopes for Tamil Nadu before Mumbai’s lower-order, led by Shardul Thakur’s blistering maiden First-Class century and no. 10 Tanush Kotian’s unbeaten 89, raced to a 233-run first-innings lead. The visitors were then bundled out for 162, with Mumbai registering an innings and 70-run win to reach their 48th Ranji final.
Sulakshan Kulkarni said he’d provided Sai Kishore with all the inputs from his years of experience of playing and working in Mumbai. “But I can only lead a horse to water, can’t make it drink,” Kulkarni said. “I even explained to them Mumbai’s mindset,” the 57-year-old added.
We should have bowled but the captain had some different instinct- Sulakshan Kulkarni not happy with R Sai Kishore’s decision
Sulakshan Kulkarni made it clear in no uncertain terms the captain, R Sai Kishore, made the call despite conventional wisdom and his own knowledge of conditions having played and coached for Mumbai, suggesting they should’ve bowled first.
“I always speak straightforward – we lost the match at 9 o’clock on day one,” Kulkarni said after Tamil Nadu were handed an innings defeat by Mumbai inside three days at the Bandra Kurla Complex Ground. “The moment I saw the wicket I exactly knew what we were going to get.
Speaking after the match , Kulkarni admitted that the decision at the toss made a significant difference. As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo he claimed:
“I always speak straightforward — we lost the match at 9 o’clock on day one. The moment I saw the wicket I exactly knew what we were going to get. Everything was set, we won the toss, as a coach, as a Mumbaikar, I know the conditions well. We should have bowled but the captain had some different instinct.”
The 57-year-old elaborated that he already knew it would be a tough match
“When I saw that they had played on a different pitch in the quarter-final and what wicket they gave, (that) moment I realised that this is a seaming-friendly wicket and it was going to be a very tough match, we would have to play really well to win this game. Ultimately he [Sai Kishore] is the boss. I can give my feedback and inputs (on) the kind of wickets and Mumbai’s mindset also.”
That first half an hour got in the batsman’s minds exclaims Sulakshan Kulkarni
Sulakshan Kulkarni added that Sai Kishore’s decision baffled them as they were mentally prepared to field first:
“We were mentally prepared that whoever wins the toss would bowl first. We knew that we would bowl first. The moment they (TV broadcast) said we would bat first, whatever you say, it goes in the batsmen’s minds. That first half an hour got in the batsman’s minds.”
Tamil Nadu suffered a horrendous collapse on the opening day, eventually being bundled out by Mumbai for a paltry 146. In reply, Sai Kishore’s five-wicket haul raised some hopes for Tamil Nadu before Mumbai’s lower-order, led by Shardul Thakur’s blistering maiden First-Class century and no. 10 Tanush Kotian’s unbeaten 89, raced to a 233-run first-innings lead. The visitors were then bundled out for 162, with Mumbai registering an innings and 70-run win to reach their 48th Ranji final.