SMAT 2025-26: Experienced core group fails to step up for Tamil Nadu

Debatable selection calls, batting and bowling woes, and sloppy fielding have theoretically cost Tamil Nadu a knockout berth in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Having lost three of its four matches so far, it’s a big slump for a team that won back-to-back titles in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

The experienced core group has collectively failed to step up. N. Jagadeesan, who opened the batting and was the top run-getter in the 2020-21 season, has failed to click at No. 4 so far. Sai Sudharsan has looked rusty and out of sorts at No. 3.

Sai Sudharsan actually struggled to keep up the momentum set by the openers (115 off 72) against Delhi, scoring just 13 off 10. Shahrukh Khan, who struck at 220 and 157.81 in those title-winning campaigns, has put up a flop show with 18 runs at a strike rate of 75 this season. The way he’s been getting out — a reckless run-out, a charge-and-miss stumping to spin, and a careless slap to backward point off a short ball — does little to inspire confidence.

In the bowling department, skipper Varun Chakaravarthy has been far from his usual best, going at 9.75 an over for just two wickets. His partner Sai Kishore has fared even worse, conceding at 13.62 and managing only a solitary wicket with his left-arm spin — a far cry from his frugal best (4.82 and 6.06) that underpinned Tamil Nadu’s title runs, when spin was its strongest suit. To make matters worse, left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh has struggled to keep things tight, returning only two wickets at 10.70.

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The fielding hasn’t been up to the mark, either. Rajasthan’s Deepak Hooda (76 n.o.) was dropped twice — first on 30 by Varun at cover, and later on 56 by Sai Kishore at deep square leg. Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal (102 n.o.) was dropped on 82 by Sonu Yadav at deep point. Gurjapneet dropped a catch at third man against Rajasthan, too.

Delhi’s Himmat Singh celebrates after hitting the winning six during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Tamil Nadu.
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI

The selectors have made it baffling by including five batters, who are typical openers, in the squad: Tushar Raheja, Amith Sathvik, Jagadeesan, Sai Sudharsan, and Shivam Singh. With two wicketkeepers in Tushar and Jagadeesan, there was no need for a third wicketkeeper in Rithik Easwaran.

The inclusion of a middle-order batter like G. Ajitesh, who strikes at 161.29, would have made more sense. In fact, all-rounder R. Rajkumar, who turned up with the only standout performance (unbeaten 93 off 43) for TN so far in the tournament, was not named in the initial squad and was a last-minute inclusion.

Published on Dec 03, 2025