Senthilnathan named TN senior men’s team coach

Senthilnathan.
| Photo Credit: M. VEDHAN

Former Tamil Nadu player and India under-19 captain M. Senthilnathan has been appointed head coach of the Tamil Nadu senior men’s team for the upcoming domestic season.

Senthilnathan will be TN’s third head coach in as many years. He replaces former India pacer L. Balaji, who was at the helm last year.

Meanwhile, another former India fast bowler, T. Kumaran, will be the bowling coach, while Tanveer Jabbar will continue as the batting coach, a role he started last year.

The State senior team has had a barren run in the last few years and last won a title in the 2021-22 season when it clinched the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.

Senthilnathan, an aggressive batter during his playing days and was part of TN’s last Ranji Trophy-winning squad in 1987-88, has now been tasked with ending the prolonged drought. Handling pace bowlingOne of the biggest tasks ahead of him will be to help address the TN’s batters tackling quality pace bowling, especially in conditions where assistance is available for the quicks.

Similarly, managing the pacers will be another key area for Senthilnathan, who has been the head coach of the MRF Pace Foundation for more than a decade.

Speaking to The Hindu, the 56-year-old stressed that his focus is on helping the team play an aggressive brand of cricket.

“We want to play fearless cricket, and I don’t want any player to feel the pressure of playing for his place,” said Senthilnathan.

“My role is to get the best out of them and create an atmosphere where they can easily approach me for help. We want to do well in all formats, but yes, the Ranji Trophy is the pinnacle. At the same time, I don’t want to set lofty goals, but I want to approach them step by step,” he added.

State senior selection committee (Men): Chairman: K. Shri Vasudeva Das; members: M. Santhosh Kumar, S. Suresh Kumar, S. Srinivason, B. Ramprakash.

State junior selection committee: Chairman: D. Girish; members: K.H. Gopinath, R. Suthesh, I. L. Rajkumar, A. P. Suresh Kumar, S. Chandramouli.

Coaching staff: State senior team: M. Senthil Nathan (head coach); Tanveer Jabbar (batting coach); T. Kumaran (bowling coach).

Under–23: V. R.S. Guru Kedarnath (head coach); V. Maruthi Raghav (assistant coach).

U-19: V. Yo Mahesh (head coach); K. Varun Kumar (assistant coach); C. S. Santhosh (fielding coach).

U-16: Wilkins Vijay Victor (head coach); R. Tarun (assistant coach).