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“We should have launched first, but the captain had a different instinct,” he said.
ESPNcricinfo Staff
Tamil Nadu coach Sulakshan Kulkarni estimated that Tamil Nadu lost the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy semi-final in the toss on the first day after captain R Sai Kishore chose to bat in player-friendly conditions. Kulkarni did not mince words in stating that they were “mentally prepared” that whoever won the toss would choose to bowl first, but that “the captain had a different instinct.”
“I always speak clearly: we lost the match at 9 o’clock on the first day,” Kulkarni said after TN lost to Mumbai by an innings and 70 runs. “The moment I saw the wicket I knew exactly what we were going to get. Everything was ready, we won the toss, as a coach, as a Mumbaikar, I know the conditions well. We should have bowled but the captain had something different. instinct.”
Sai Kishore’s decision to bat backfired with TN reduced to 42 for 5 in the first session. They were eventually bowled out for 146. Mumbai then piled up 378 in their first dig before TN were bowled out for 162 to bow out of the Ranji Trophy in three days.
“When I saw that they had played on a different pitch in the quarter-final and what a wicket they gave, (at that) moment I realized that this is a seam-friendly wicket and it was going to be a very difficult match. We have to play very well to win this match,” said Kulkarni.
“Ultimately, he (Sai Kishore) is the boss. I can give my opinion and input (on) the type of wickets and also the mentality of Mumbai.”
TN lost opener Sai Sudharsan on the fourth ball of the first innings and that, according to Kulkarni, is where the team lost its mind.
“We were mentally prepared that whoever won the toss would pitch first,” he said. “We knew we would bowl first. The moment (the television broadcast) said we would bat first, whatever you say, it stays in the batsmen’s minds. That first half hour (before the game) came into play. the mind of the hitters.
“When you get to the first over, the third (fourth) ball, your international player comes out and you see the situation… in the first hour, we lost the game and the plot. It was very difficult to come back.”
Despite the low score in the first innings, TN had a chance to get back into the game having reduced Mumbai to 106 for 7 in the 48th over. But Shardul Thakur, who came in at number 9, smashed a 109 off 105 balls to take away any advantage. He first added 105 runs for the eighth wicket with Hardik Tamore and then a 79-run stand for the ninth wicket with Tanush Kotian. Tushar Deshpande and Kotian then added 88 runs for the last wicket to help Mumbai take a 232-run lead in the first innings.
Kulkarni said Mumbai has the best lower order in the Indian domestic circuit. “They are India’s best numbers 9 and 10. I told him in the dressing room that their batting starts after number 6. I can lead the horse to water, (but) the horse has to drink.”