Tamil Nadu skipper Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore on Sunday led his team to a crucial turnaround on the second day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu. Sai Kishore took the onus on himself after his team was bundled out of 146 in the first innings. Tamil Nadu needed a bowling performance worth remembering and the skipper stepped up with a 6-wicket haul. Sai Kishore has been in brilliant form in the Ranji Trophy this season, taking 53 wickets in the current season.
However, the turnaround wasn’t complete for Tamil Nadu with Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur slamming a fine century to help Mumbai gain a huge lead. But nothing can be taken away from Sai Kishore’s brilliant spin bowling. The left arm orthodox spinner has put in one brilliant performance after the other, and his consistent performances have moved him one step closer to an Indian team call up.
The spinner on Sunday took crucial wickets including that of Musheer Khan of U19 World Cup and veteran Indian player Ajinkya Rahane. His impressive line and length reduced Mumbai to 106/7 at one point of time before Shardul Thakur decided to take matter into his own hands.
Kishore has taken 53 wickets in 9 matches in the Ranji Trophy so far. His average of 18.49 and an economy rate of just over 2 runs per over are fantastic. He is the highest wicket taker of the Ranji Trophy season so far. Kishore is leading the next in line by a good 12 wickets. It will be fair to say that the Indian selectors are looking closely at Sai Kishore’s performance. He can be said to be just one step away from earning an India call up.
After the match, Sai Kishore talked about the congested Ranji Trophy fixtures.
“Fast bowlers are extra tired because you travel on one day. For me, I don’t train much because of the three-day thing. I bowl directly match-to-match so the load on my body is fine. I am managing myself that way but should be harder for the fast bowlers,” Kishore said.
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