Tamil Nadu were a strong force in the domestic scene at the start of the millenium but the core members of that team are missing
Kanishkaa Balachandran in Chennai14-Nov-2007
Coach WV Raman faces a stern challenge in moulding a young Tamil Nadu side into a winning combination © Cricinfo Ltd
The turn of the century coincided with a purple patch for Tamil Naducricket. It was a period when a number of players from the state wereknocking on the doors of the Indian team, most of them trying to breakinto the near-impenetrable middle order.The hunt for a quality Test opener seemed to have ended in 1999 whenSadagoppan Ramesh burst on to the scene. There was Sridharan Sriram,relentlessly pounding attacks at not only the domestic level but alsoagainst touring international sides. Sridharan Sharath was thego-to man for every crisis and Hemang Badani – probably the most proficientstroke-maker of the lot – broke into the Indian ODI squad.Medium-pacer T Kumaran was selected for the tour of Australia in 1999-00and there was talk of wicketkeeper Reuben Paul joining the one-day squadas well. A few years later, L Balaji sent stumps flying and warmed heartsacross the border in Pakistan.Though the team wasn’t grabbing trophies, they were always strongcontenders. Reaching the Ranji Trophy finals in consecutive years (2002-03 and2003-04) took them a few feet from the summit, though they seemed to nothave a way to upstage domestic giants Mumbai. However the glory all seemedso short-lived and the core of the side doesn’t even exist today.Few players have migrated to other states while others defected to therecently launched Indian Cricket League (ICL). Things came to such a passthat Tamil Nadu nearly suffered the ignominy of relegation last season.In the background is WV Raman, one season old as the team’s coach. Aformer India batsman, Raman was best known for his languorous drivesthrough the off side. Overseeing Tamil Nadu’s preparations ahead of aneagerly-awaited encounter with Mumbai, Raman stretches backwards and looksout into the tranquil surroundings of the Guru Nanak CollegeGround in Chennai.”It’s all a state of mind, taking charge of such a young side,” Raman toldCricinfo. “It’s only natural to ask yourself, ‘Well what have I got here?’With a young side, the only way is up. As a coach it gives you immensesatisfaction to know that you have contributed in improving anindividual’s game and the performance of the team in general. Quite a fewpositives came out in the last season despite the team’s ranking. The teamis in a transition phase and it takes time to rebound.”The timing of Raman’s appointment could bode well for the team. Survivorsof the exodus, like captain S Badrinath would have sensed a big change inthe dressing-room environment with several fresh faces hopping in. Raman,though, has mainly overseen a team of youngsters.”Most of them had already left for other states by the time I joined so Ican’t really say if there were any drastic changes in the dressing-roomenvironment,” Raman says. “A few of them did call me after signing up [forthe ICL], saying that they joined for personal reasons. We have to respectthat as one cannot intrude into one’s personal decision.”The vaccum at the top presents an opportunity for the talent pool to getsome exposure. “We need to harness it at the junior level – especially atthe Under-15 level. They need to be made harder and tougher at that ageand I honestly feel that is lackingat the moment. There is a bit of a soft upbringing in terms of thecricket. That has to change for Tamil Nadu to become a force.”
