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Tamil Nadu cricket in crisis as Venkatramana recalled as white-ball coach after Ranji collapse

Akshita Patel

Tamil Nadu appoints new coach [Source: @TNCACricket/X.com]Tamil Nadu appoints new coach [Source: @TNCACricket/X.com]

On November 18, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) announced a leadership change. M. Venkatramana will take over as the coach for the state’s white-ball teams for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (one-day).  

The decision comes after Tamil Nadu collected just four points from four matches in the Ranji Trophy 2025/26. 

With losses to Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh and a first-innings lead conceded to defending champions Vidarbha, the team’s knockout hopes look almost impossible. 

TNCA bring back Venkatramana as coach

Only against Nagaland did Tamil Nadu manage to take the first-innings advantage. Hence, after a disappointing start to the new Ranji Trophy season, TNCA has made a big change.

M. Venkatramana will be Tamil Nadu’s coach for white-ball tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

He replaces M. Senthilnathan, who will continue only as the red-ball coach for the remainder of the Ranji season. 

Interestingly, Venkatramana is not new to Tamil Nadu cricket. He had earlier coached the team between 2021 and 2024, a period that witnessed much success.

Under him, Tamil Nadu won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2021-22, their third title in the history of the tournament.

They also made the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, falling just short of a historic white-ball double as they lost to Himachal Pradesh.

An internal crisis is also brewing in Tamil Nadu

But the coaching change does not hide the fact that things are not smooth within the current team. According to rumours, dressing-room tension has been growing. 

They became more visible when middle-order batter Andre Siddarth openly expressed his unhappiness about being pushed down the batting order by Senthilnathan. 

His comments, made after scoring a century against Uttar Pradesh, hinted at deeper disagreements within the squad. 

Still, the TNCA has decided to keep Senthilnathan as the red-ball coach for the last two Ranji matches in January 2026.