R Sai Kishore will not lead Tamil Nadu in the traditional pre-season Buchi Babu tournament after hurting his left hand during a first-division league match in Chennai last Sunday. The left-arm spinner, 28, wants to be back in time for the Duleep Trophy, due to start in Bengaluru on 28 August.
Those who watched the league game at Guru Nanak College ground say the injury occurred when Kishore tried to stop a firm drive from M Shahrukh Khan in his follow-through. A TNCA medical update later confirmed bruising but no fracture. “It’s sore, but the doctors are happy with the progress,” a support-staff member said. “The plan is rest, then supervised bowling next week.”
With Kishore unavailable, top-order batter Pradosh Ranjan Paul will captain TNCA President’s XI, while left-hand batter-all-rounder C Andre Siddarth becomes his deputy. The reshuffle means Shahrukh Khan now leads the TNCA XI, a switch the selectors hope keeps both teams balanced.
Tamil Nadu’s spin stocks have taken a hit. S Ajith Ram, third-highest wicket-taker in last season’s Ranji Trophy, is already sidelined, and left-armer M Siddharth moves to TNCA XI because of personal commitments. “Two frontline spinners out just before the season is hardly ideal,” former state coach WV Raman noted on local radio. “Someone like Siddarth will have to shoulder extra overs.”
Kishore had tuned up for red-ball cricket with a short county stint at Surrey, collecting 11 wickets in two Championship matches, including a five-for against Durham. Speaking to Surrey’s in-house channel after that match, he said, “Bowling with the Dukes ball teaches you patience. Hopefully the lessons help Tamil Nadu this season.”
The Buchi Babu also offers a stage for younger quicks. Seam-bowling all-rounder RS Ambrish and fast bowler D Deepesh—fresh from the India Under-19 tour of England—find places in the two Tamil Nadu squads.
Away from the injury talk, the fixture list intrigues. TNCA XI open against a Mumbai side featuring Sarfaraz Khan, his younger brother Musheer and opener Ayush Mhatre at Gojan ground on 18 August. For Paul’s President’s XI, the first outing will be against Hyderabad at SSN College.
Squads
TNCA President’s XI: Pradosh Ranjan Paul (capt), C Andre Siddarth (vice-capt), B Indrajith, Vijay Shankar, R Vimal Khumar, S Radhakrishnan, S Lokeshwar, G Ajitesh, J Hemchudeshan, RS Ambrish, CV Achyuth, H Trilok Nag, P Saravana Kumar, P Vidyuth, K Abhinav.
TNCA XI: M Shahrukh Khan (capt), Boopathi Vaishna Kumar (vice-capt), B Sachin, M Siddharth, Tushar Raheja, Kiran Karthikeyan, S Mohamed Ali, S Rithik Easwaran, SR Athish, S Lakshay Jain, DT Chandrasekar, P Vignesh, R Sonu Yadav, D Deepesh, J Prem Kumar, A Esakkimuthu, TD Lokesh Raj.
If recovery goes to plan, Kishore could still slot straight into the South Zone side that begins its Duleep Trophy campaign on 4 September at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. For now, he watches from the sidelines, his county form fresh in the memory and the red-ball season still within reach.
