Tasting success: Karnataka backed up its Cooch Behar (U-19) triumph by clinching the Col. CK Nayudu (U-23) Trophy.
| Photo Credit: Okay. MURALI KUMAR
Karnataka hasn’t received the Ranji Trophy in almost a decade. But the twin red-ball titles received by the State’s colts this 12 months are proof sufficient that the inspiration is unbroken and advantages may quickly be reaped on the senior degree.
In January, Karnataka secured its maiden Cooch Behar (U-19) Trophy, and on Wednesday, clinched the Col. CK Nayudu (U-23) Trophy, additionally for the primary time.
“It is personally very satisfying,” mentioned coach Yere Goud. “The moment the team was given to me, I knew that they had the potential to win.
“I knew most of the boys since they were in the 16-19 age group. That helped in understanding them because I came in the middle of the season. A lot of credit should go to the boys. They were desperate to win and you saw the result.”
In a sense, the success was an emphatic vindication of the gamers’ expertise, which the selectors recognised even earlier than the silverware was annexed. The Karnataka senior aspect noticed as many as seven debutants within the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy, with 5 of them — Okay. Shashikumar (21), Rohit Kumar (23), Dheeraj Gowda (17), Okay.V. Aneesh (22) and Hardik Raj (18) — from the age-group squads.
Looking forward
Karnataka additionally moved away from its senior spinners like Okay. Gowtham and J. Suchith. The inexperience confirmed, however chairman of selectors J. Abhiram revealed the considering behind the calls.
“Even with the seniors, we lost the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” Abhiram identified. “If you want to look ahead to the next six or seven years, we have to groom these young boys and instil some confidence.
“Hardik was a big revelation in Ranji. K.V. Aneesh (922 runs in CK Nayudu) has done very well and I am sure he will contribute a lot in Ranji. R. Smaran (829 runs in CK Nayudu) is ready. So it is looking good.”