Sai Kishore ruled out of Buchi Babu due to injury, having hurt his hand playing club cricket in Chennai last week.
The skipper of Tamil Nadu, R Sai Kishore, is hoping to recuperate in time for the Duleep Trophy, which starts in Bengaluru on August 28, although he will miss the preseason Buchi Babu event due to an injury.
It is believed that during a first-division club match at the Guru Nanak college venue in Chennai last Sunday, Sai Kishore injured his hand while following through on a drive from M Shahrukh Khan.
The South Zone team, which includes 28-year-old Sai Kishore, will begin play on September 4 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Pradosh Ranjan Paul will command the TNCA President’s XI at the Buchi Babu competition in Sai Kishore’s place, with C Andre Siddarth serving as his deputy. Following the rearrangement, Shahrukh will now lead the TNCA XI, which Paul had previously been designated captain of.
Tamil Nadu’s spin resources have been exhausted in the lead-up to their domestic season due to Sai Kishore’s injury. Due to personal obligations, M Siddarth was shifted from the TNCA President’s XI to the TNCA XI, while fellow left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram, who finished third in terms of wickets taken during the 2023–24 Ranji season, is also injured.
After returning to Chennai, Sai Kishore played one match for his club team and county cricket for Surrey to get ready for the red-ball domestic season. He claimed 11 wickets in two games for Surrey last month, including five against Durham, which was a crucial step in his team’s attempt to win the Rothesay County Championship again.
The two Tamil Nadu Buchi Babu squads also include fast bowler D Deepesh and seam-bowling all-rounder RS Ambrish, who previously represented India Under-19s in England.