Sai Kishore reveals what went wrong with Tamil Nadu’s domestic cricket season
Tamil Nadu skipper R. Sai Kishore conceded that the team has regressed from the progress made over the last couple of years after failing to qualify for the knockouts in any of the three domestic competitions this season.
TN’s 2025-26 campaign ended in a draw against Baroda on Sunday, and the team finished sixth out of eight teams in its group in the Ranji Trophy.
“The only way you can qualify for the knockouts is by taking 20 wickets. At least in all our home games, we have to do that, but we have failed to do so even once this season. We have to fix that,” said Sai Kishore.
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The skipper also took responsibility for his own performance and accepted that he was not at his best this year after returning from a finger injury. “I played six Ranji games, but it was only by the middle of the Vijay Hazare Trophy that I got my rhythm back. The way I bowled in this game, I wasn’t able to do so earlier.”
When asked how the team and players can improve to be better prepared for such challenges, the skipper stressed the importance of seizing the moment.
“We have to handle pressure in tough situations. Even if we can’t win those moments, at least we mustn’t lose the plot, but hang in there and then capitalise when there is an opening. We have to try to simulate those situations during training.”
On the team’s dwindling fortunes in white-ball cricket, Sai Kishore said, “We have to play fearless cricket, especially as batters. The other teams have moved the game to the next level, but we haven’t caught up.”
Published on Feb 01, 2026
