CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu appointed former Mumbai wicketkeeper Sulakshan Kulkarni as their next coach following dismal performances of the state team in the Ranji Trophy in the past few seasons. Kulkarni takes over from R Venkatramana, who was in charge for the last couple of seasons.
The Apex Council of the TNCA, on the recommendations of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), has given the former Mumbai Ranji Trophy winning coach a two-season deal to turn things around for the state team. Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Chandrakant Pandit, who was approached by the TNCA earlier, wasn’t available for the job and it paved the way for Kulkarni to take over.
The decision makers at the TNCA believe Kulkarni is a hard taskmaster and will be able to get the best out of a team which hasn’t performed to potential in red-ball cricket.
Kulkarni, who coached Punjab U-19 team last season, has vast experience in coaching and previously handled teams like Mumbai, Vidarbha and Chattisgarh. He coached Mumbai for three seasons (2011-14). The former Mumbai wicket-keeper batsmen, who had a record 459-run partnership with former India opener Wasim Jaffer against Saurashtra in 1996-97, guided Mumbai as coach to their 2013 triumph.
Kulkarni, who made his debut for Railways at the age of 18, played for various teams like Vidarbha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh apart from Mumbai during his 16-year long first class career.
