Tamil Nadu has announced a refreshed 16-member squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy beginning December 24, with N. Jagadeesan named captain and B. Sai Sudharsan appointed vice-captain. The State senior selection committee has opted for a youthful overhaul, rewarding seven members of the Under-23 side that recently clinched the BCCI one-day title.
Under-23 captain M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar and Mohamed Ali are among the familiar faces promoted, while five others — Sachin Rathi, pacer G. Govinth, all-rounder Sunny Sandhu, leg-spinner Karthik Manikandan and wicketkeeper S.R. Athish — have earned maiden call-ups. Their inclusion marks a strategic shift towards developing young talent after a disappointing domestic season for Tamil Nadu.
The revamp has resulted in some high-profile omissions. Senior pacers Sandeep Warrier and T. Natarajan did not make the cut, while M. Shahrukh Khan, who was dropped midway through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, has also been left out of the one-day setup. These decisions signal the selectors’ intent to reset and rebuild after a string of poor performances across formats.
The Vijay Hazare Trophy holds significant importance for Tamil Nadu this year as the side seeks redemption from what has been a turbulent campaign. The team’s struggles have been stark: in the Ranji Trophy, Tamil Nadu is already out of contention for qualification after losing two of its five matches outright and conceding first-innings leads in two more. Only against Nagaland did TN manage to secure a first-innings lead, leaving it seventh on the table with just five points.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy offered no respite, with TN failing to progress beyond the league stage for the fourth consecutive year, winning only three of seven matches. Last season in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the five-time champion exited early after a pre-quarterfinal defeat to Rajasthan.
Placed in Elite Group A this year, Tamil Nadu faces a challenging path. Defending champion Karnataka headlines the group, joined by Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Pondicherry, Kerala and Tripura. With new energy injected into the squad and leadership entrusted to an experienced duo in Jagadeesan and Sudharsan, Tamil Nadu will be hoping the fresh faces can help reverse its domestic fortunes and restore pride in a season that desperately needs a positive turn.
Squad
- Jagadeesan (Capt.), B. Sai Sudharsan (Vice-capt), B. Indrajith, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, C. Andre Siddarth, M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar, S. Mohamed Ali, S.R. Athish, R. Sai Kishore, Sachin Rathi, Gurjapneet Singh, C.V. Achyuth, G. Govinth, R. Sonu Yadav, Sunny Sandhu, V.S. Karthick Manikandan.
