Ranji Trophy | Divakar Vasu appointed as Tamil Nadu coach on two-year contract
Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, in a press release, announced that former TN all-rounder Divakar Vasu has been appointed as the coach for a period of two years while former TN batsman R Prasanna would be the assistant coach. Vasu was part of the TN squad that won the Ranji Trophy in 1987-88.
After seeing the team falling apart last year under the guidance of Hrishikesh Kanitkar, TNCA executive committee sat for a meeting yesterday where they collectively decided to replace Kanitkar in favour of Vasu. Apart from having 240 first-class wickets to his name, Vasu has also scored as many as 3,001 runs, laced with three 100s and 19 half-centuries. In List A cricket, the all-rounder scored 527 runs in 41 matches while picking up 50 wickets.Â
"The Executive Committee of the TNCA in its meeting held on 19th August 2019 had confirmed Mr D Vasu as the Head Coach and Mr R Prasanna as the Assistant Coach for Tamil Nadu State seniors team for season 20192020," the release said.
The job of TN coach won't be easy for him as in the last two years, Tamil Nadu has failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Ranji Trophy. Vasu, who has the experience of coaching in the Duleep Trophy and has worked in the biomechanical centre at the SRMC Sports Science centre for both the ICC and the BCCI, however, is not too worried about that.
âWe have the ability. But we need to win the big moments in the big games. Thatâs very important. The seniors have to give their everything, show the way and be an example for the younger bunch in the side. They have so much ability as cricketers," Vasu told Sportstar.
âTechnically we need to improve when we play away from home, particularly on the green pitches in northern India. Mentally, we have to get through tough situations and we have not always done that. I want to know their state of mind, tell them what I expect from them as Tamil Nadu cricketers and get to know what they want from me," he added.
As per the report, bowling coach L Balaji wasn't too keen for the role and has opted out of it due to his commitments with Chennai Super Kings and his commentary stints.