Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Focus is on being a wicket-taker for crew, says Hyderabad’s Tanay Thyagarajan

Tanay Thyagarajan had an opportunity entry into the world of cricket. At 8, he was ready at his college in Kolkata for his mom to select him.

One day, she was late and the college coach who noticed Tanay ready there requested him to bowl a couple of balls. And, the younger boy was spot on, hitting the nice size spot the place a hat was stored, constantly.

“Yes, that’s how my journey began as a left-arm spinner,” a smiling Tanay recollects.

Two a long time later, Tanay joined the choose band of Hyderabad cricketers like late Ghulam Ahmed, Kanwaljit Singh and Arshad Ayub who’ve taken than 13-wicket hauls in Ranji Trophy when the 28-year-old accomplished a match-winning 13 for 144 towards Nagaland within the Ranji Trophy Plate Group semifinal at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium right here on Sunday.

But, as has been the characteristic of Hyderabad cricketers this 12 months, there have been no wild celebrations both by him or by any of the centurions.

Even Tanmay Agarwal, who scored the quickest triple century in first-class cricket final month towards Sikkim, didn’t even increase his bat!

“We are a group of players more committed to the team winning and not focussing on individual goals, honestly,” Tanay stated in a chat with Sportstar.

“We don’t have personal goals. We wanted to make sure that when we get to the Elite Group. Show that we are at a higher level as a whole squad and take our game to the next level,” he stated. “Honestly, after one bad season last year, we are back where we should be,” he added.

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“Yes, it has been a learning experience. I believe that I am on the right track,” Tanay stated.

“We want to be performing at this winning level in the Elite Group. Looking back, we are all really pleased that we are back to where we should be,” Tanay stated.

“I feel my job in the team is to be the wicket-taker, I have been consciously trying to bowl wicket-taking deliveries not just in this Plate Group but in the next level of cricket too,” he stated. “I have been in a constant process of improving. Focussed on being the wicket-taker,” he stated.

“It is not that I have not tried some things in my bowling before. But, now I am able to be spot on in executing them and successfully too,” stated Tanay who claimed 46 wickets this season thus far to be the very best wicket-taker.

“The biggest motivation for all of us is to do exceptionally well to qualify for the Elite Group. We also wanted to make sure that when we get to that group we are at a higher level as a whole squad takes our game to the next level,” he stated.

“I don’t think any performing cricketer in Plate Group should be disheartened by the general impression that performances here don’t get the same kind of recognition as those in the Elite Group. Whatever grade of cricket we play, as cricketers it is our job to go and perform, people outside are happy or not happy is not our job,” Tanay defined.

“I think my strong points are similar to that of the team never giving up. Our goals are very high. The coming three or four years are very crucial. So, nothing is going to disappoint us and there is no feeling that we cannot achieve this or that,” he stated.

Nagaland’s Tahmeed Rahman bowled by Hyderabad left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan within the Ranji Trophy Plate Group semifinal at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
VV Subrahmanyam/ The Hindu

“I think full credit goes to our captain Tilak Varma for he brought a culture of giving all the importance to winning. And, with seniors like Tanmay, Rohit, Ravi Teja, CV Milind and the support staff with head coach Ravi Sir (D.B. Ravi Teja), Pavan Kumar, it has been a terrific atmosphere for all of us to go out and give our best,” Tanay stated. “It is all about winning only and nothing else,” he added.

“I owe a lot to my coach Adnan Bafna who has been my mentor since I was 12 years and always insisted that wicket-taking balls are the most important in a bowler’s career and that’s what really helped me,” Tanay stated.

“When we moved over to Hyderabad in 2007 because of my dad’s transfer, it was Abhijit Sir (Abhijit Chatterjee) who spotted me at Gymkhana Ground and briefed my family about the game and its structure and how I could be a good cricketer,” Tanay recalled.

“My favourite is Favourite Ravindra Jadeja for he is the complete template of a left-arm spinning allrounder,” he stated.

“My goal is to help Hyderabad win trophies,” he signed off.