Former Mumbai wicket-keeper batter, Sulakshan Kulkarni, has been appointed the coach of the Tamil Nadu senior cricket staff for the subsequent two seasons.

The 56-year-old former Mumbai coach takes over from M. Venkataramana within the Tamil Nadu staff. Kulkarni is a multi-dimensional persona having received the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai each as a cricketer and as a coach. 

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) was eager to rope within the extremely rated Chandrakant Pandit however the celebrated coach was tied down by his commitments with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

It is known that in his conversations with the TNCA officers, Pandit himself steered Kulkarni’s identify.

The TNCA was eager on signing up a coach from Mumbai for he would instil the ‘Khadoos’ perspective [playing hard and tough on the cricket field] within the Tamil Nadu staff. 

Of course, successful the Ranji Trophy is TNCA’s purpose and Kulkarni, a tough-talking and a result-oriented coach, is anticipated to be given a free hand to place his concepts in place.

D. Girish, Chairman TNCA’s Cricket Advisory Committee, advised Sportstar, “I had a long conversation with Kulkarni. He was asked probing questions.”

Girish added, “However, he was clear in his mind about what he wanted to bring to the team as a coach. His clarity of thought and vision impressed us.”

A dogged batter and an efficient ‘keeper in his time, Kulkarni made 3,332 runs in 65 First-Class matches at 38.29 other than taking 122 catches and effecting 21 stumpings. 

And he’s aware of Chennai, having performed within the TNCA first division league right here. 

Now, he is available in a completely completely different function. In the true Mumbai custom, he’ll make the Tamil Nadu gamers work laborious. The no-nonsense Kulkarni has the repute of cracking the whip too.