Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023: Focus on Karthik as Tamil Nadu opens its marketing campaign towards Goa

The final time Tamil Nadu lifted the Vijay Hazare Trophy – the inter-state one-day championship, Dinesh Karthik scored a fluent hundred towards Mohammed Shami-led Bengal bowling assault within the 2016-17 closing.

The Tamil Nadu crew will likely be trying as much as the veteran for reigniting the hearth because it begins its Group E marketing campaign on Saturday towards Goa on the Dadoji Konddev Stadium.

Karthik, 38, had been concerned as a commentator for the World Cup. However, after being reappointed as captain for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the veteran warlord diligently joined his teammates for the preparation in Boisar, in Palghar districts on the outskirts of Mumbai during the last week.

On Friday, whereas Goa took it straightforward after its defeat towards Madhya Pradesh within the opening recreation on Thursday, Karthik and Co. had a protracted session right here for nearly three hours. Head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni was assured Karthik’s presence will enhance the crew in a giant means.

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“His commitment has been excellent. Even after checking in very late at night during the World Cup knockouts, he used to be the first one out on the park the next morning,” Kulkarni informed Sportstar after the session.

Tamil Nadu captain Dinesh Karthik and head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni
share a light-weight second in Thane on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
Amol Karhadkar

While a majority of Tamil Nadu gamers will likely be enjoying on the stadium for the primary time, neither Karthik nor Kulkarni are alien to it. During his stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders, Karthik used to frequently prepare on the venue. Kulkarni is a hometown boy and returns to the venue the place he made his Mumbai debut nearly 4 many years in the past.

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Over the final week, Karthik and Kulkarni mix – with L. Balaji’s ready assist – have been in a position to shed the frustration of getting exited within the preliminary stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final month.

“The pitches were a bit sluggish over there and our batters struggled to adjust. Not only will the red-soil pitches help our batters but to ensure they adapt quickly, we have been training here for a week. Let’s hope we get off to a good start,” Kulkarni stated.

Goa will closely depend on Rahul Tripathi, its import from Maharashtra who began off with a scintillating 92 towards Madhya Pradesh, to negate Kuldip Sen’s uncooked tempo. The duel between the 2 visitor gamers will likely be an attention-grabbing affair ought to the pitch proceed to help the pacers the best way it did on Thursday.