Hrishikesh Kanitkar is all set to be the new head coach of the Tamil Nadu State team for of the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. According to informed sources, the 41-year-old will meet TNCA president N. Srinivasan here on Wednesday to finalise the terms of the agreement.
Without a triumph in the Ranji Trophy since S. Vasudevan’s team won the title in 1988, Tamil Nadu continues to seek an increasingly elusive victory in the competition.
The TNCA wants to inculcate a winning culture in a State side that has not always been a picture of unity. This is precisely why Kanitkar has been picked.
A proven motivator and strategist, he led an unheralded Rajasthan to two rousing Ranji triumphs in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
A gritty left-hander and handy off-spinner, Kanitkar had limited success in the two Tests and 34 ODIs he represented India in. In domestic cricket, though, he has 10,400 runs in 146 First Class matches at 52.26, and 74 wickets.
In his last appearance at Chepauk, Kanitkar lifted the Ranji Trophy after Rajasthan subdued the host. This time around he will be in a different role, on the other side of the fence.
