TN to clash with Karnataka in Ranji tie

Bangalore, Jan 1 (UNI) An off colour Tamil Nadu will take on Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match being played in M Chinnaswamy stadium here from tomorrow.

While Tamil Nadu in the low end of the table with four points and yet to taste a win is likely to go all out despite fielding an youthful team, the former champions have also been struggling to find their peak form though they have won two matches, drawn two more and lost one.

The hosts have debuted all rounder Gaurav Dhiman in place of Stuart T Binny and would miss pace bowler N C Aiyappa, who is in the injured list.

Passing through a transition, Tamil Nadu has come with a relatively young team with Hemang Badani being the only popular player.

Much was expected from the Karnataka batsmen who let down the team in Ananthpur against Andhra after the bowlers meritoriously performed to put the rivals on the mat with paltry total.

Tamil Nadu Coach W V Raman said the team was on a building up mode and the players, most of them youngsters, would put up a spirited display against Karnataka in their home town.

Raman was all praise for opener M Vijay stating that the University lad had been performing well and had been a consistent scorer in the opening slot.

Karnataka Coach Venkatesh Prasad said the team would definitely miss Aiyappa who had been performing well this season.

Following is the Team: Karnataka: K T Yere Goud (Captain), Robin Uthappa, Barrington M Rowland, Bharat Chipli, C Raghu, V S Thilak Naidu (WK), B Akhil, Sunil B Joshi, r vinay Kumar, K P Appanna, Deepak A Chougule, Gaurav S Dhiman. Tamil Nadu: S Badrinath (Capatain) M Vijay, s Anirudha, R Prasanna, S Sharath, R Ashwin, C Suresh, V Yo Mahesh, R Naresh, K Varun Kumar (WK), R Sathish, Hemang K Badani, R Jesuraj, C Ganapathy, K Vasudevadas.

UNI