JOIN USSZ teams battle for top spot
The KS Subbaiah Pillai Trophy tournament, the symbol of one-day supremacy in South Zone, returns to Bangalore after a gap of eight years.
In the interim, however, there has been little change in the nature of the contest.
Tamil Nadu, with six titles in nine years including the one they won here in 2002 in dramatic circumstances, have been the dominant side but Karnataka haven’t been too far behind, emerging winners thrice on the trot between 2005 and 2007. That the two southern giants have shared the runners-up position on seven occasions -- TN (3) and Karnataka (4) -- is an ample indication of their superiority in the six-team zone.
Save for a few upset wins -- which more often than not have been the key in deciding the eventual winners -- the likes of Hyderabad, Andhra, Kerala and Goa have been reduced to fighting for slots three to six. So, when the latest edition kicks off with the first set of matches here on Monday, it’s difficult to imagine if there will be any change in the script.
It’s not until the third day of the meet that Karnataka run into Tamil Nadu, a tie that potentially should decide who lifts the crown, though a resurgent Hyderabad may beg to differ.
Having earned promotion to the Ranji Trophy Elite League this season under new coach Sunil Joshi, the Hyderabad side is harbouring quiet ambitions of surprising the favourites. “It’s definitely going to be a three-way contest this time,” remarked Joshi after his team’s practice session at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Sunday.
“I would like to believe that we are not in the championship race because I don’t want to put any pressure on the players but at the same time, I know that we can do it,” noted the former India all-rounder.
Joshi’s former Karnataka team-mate, Robin Uthappa, echoed similar sentiments. “Of course Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been better than the rest for sometime now, but that doesn’t mean you can take any side lightly,” said the host skipper.
Uthappa should know better, because it was the lone defeat against Andhra in their last league tie that cost them the South Zone T20 title late last year in Chennai despite Karnataka having beaten Tamil Nadu.
While it remains to be seen if these teams rise above being just party poopers, there should be little doubt that both Karnataka and defending champions Tamil Nadu will be saving most of their energies for their marquee clash on Thursday. From injuries to players on national duty, both teams will be missing quite a few key players but the ones that are available are good enough to spice up the contest.
In a battle between two sides that are equally matched, TN might just hold a slight advantage when it comes to bowling with their experienced skipper L Balaji spearheading the attack and boasting an effective support cast in V Yomahesh and J Kaushik.
The hosts, on the other hand, are severely hampered by the absence of R Vinay Kumar, and the injured duo of S Arvind and NC Aiyappa. While Abhimanyu Mithun’s presence is encouraging, rookie pacer Ronit More gets an ideal chance of growing up in the hierarchy.
Monday’s fixtures: Karnataka vs Goa (Chinnaswamy); Andhra vs Tamil Nadu (RSI); Goa vs Kerala (JIRS).