Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy opener against Rajasthan, where it conceded an 89-run first-innings lead, offered both familiar batting concerns and reasons for optimism in the pace department.
N. Jagadeesan, in particular, will rue his dismissal, holing out to long-off off left-arm spinner Kukna Ajay Singh. The lower-order’s lack of application, as pointed out by skipper Sai Kishore, has been a recurring problem in recent seasons.
Jagadeesan (55) and Pradosh Ranjan Paul (58) batted together for nearly half of the second day, but neither converted his half-century into a substantial score. The side lost its last five wickets for 10 runs.
On an initially placid surface, Saravana Kumar and D. Deepesh were workhorse-like. The 37-year-old Saravana Kumar, playing only his third Ranji match, claimed three of the four wickets on the opening day and finished with figures of three for 68 in the first essay. He removed two well-set batters, Sumit Godara (49) and Rohan Rajbar (95), breaking both of Rajasthan’s century partnerships.