For TN, talent isn’t the issue - cohesion, mindset and clarity are: Bhagwandas

Transitions are never easy, but they need not be overwhelming either. Tamil Nadu cricket, despite boasting a rich talent pool, has not quite lived up to its potential in recent years. In an exclusive interaction with the The Hindu , U. Bhagwandas Rao, recently elected as the Honorary Secretary of the TNCA, spoke about the challenges ahead. “Over the past year or two, Tamil Nadu has experienced a few setbacks across age groups. That said, performance in sport is never a straight line. The important thing is to not stagnate or decline. Fortunately, we have a fair understanding of what the problems are. The entire group is collectively working on solutions,” said Bhagwandas. “The game itself has changed. Every State now operates with a clear vision. Perhaps we became complacent while the others surged ahead. But that has also presented an opportunity to raise our standards again. “There is a generational transition underway. Comparing the current squad to the previous teams, when we dominated, may not be fair. These players need time to grow into their own identity. “Everyone wants to win the Ranji Trophy, but hope alone doesn’t take you anywhere. We need to go back to the basics and identify where we’ve fallen short. For nearly two decades, Tamil Nadu hasn’t cracked the Ranji formula which requires a dedicated red-ball core and players groomed specifically for multi-day cricket. Many players approach Ranji cricket with a white-ball mindset, looking for an instant impact than playing according to the situation. “Talent isn’t the issue; cohesion, mindset and clarity are. Selecting a 15-player squad is easy, but building a team of XI that gels is harder. The northern States realised this earlier and embraced fearless, unconventional cricket. We need to reinvent our approach. “The current administration believes in a format-specific strategy - separate approaches for the red- and white-ball formats. We are still in an experimental phase as we are barely a couple of months into our roles. Mistakes will happen, but repetition of mistakes cannot be allowed,” said Bhagwandas. Asked whether there was a lack of communication in the side, he said: “I don’t see the internal issues being as serious as they are portrayed. Clear communication solves most problems and setting expectations - what players should and shouldn’t - helps indeed. “The ability to win, or at least to dominate your opponent, has to come from within. That mindset must be developed over time, primarily through strong leadership from the head coach. Cracking the right formula may take months or even a year, but incremental improvement is key. As long as we continue to move forward, we’re on the right path”. Published - December 26, 2025 12:08 am IST

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