R Sai Kishore shows his power in Tamil Nadu cricket; forces coach Sulakshan Kulkarni to resign after Ranji Trophy semi final controversy

Just over two weeks after publicly criticizing Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore, Sulakshan Kulkarni has stepped down as the head coach of the team. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) appointed Sulakshan Kulkarni as the head coach last year.

The former Mumbai cricketer made an instant impact as Tamil Nadu qualified for the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy in the last season. It was their first appearance in the knockout stages of the first-class competition since the 2016/17 season.

However, the relationship between Sulakshan Kulkarni and the board as well as the rest of the team turned sour after he publicly criticised R Sai Kishore following the loss against eventual winners Mumbai in the semifinal. He pinned the blame on the captain for the loss, saying that the spinner went against the team’s plans by opting to bat first. He also said that Tamil Nadu lost the game at the toss itself.

“I always speak straightforward — we lost the match at 9’o clock on Day One. Everything was set, we won the toss, as a coach, as a Mumbaikar, I know the conditions well. We should have bowled but the captain had some different instinct.

“Ultimately, he is the boss. I can give my feedback and inputs (as to) what kind of wickets and Mumbai’s mindset also. (From) 106/7, I knew before the match that this (Mumbai’s fightback) may happen,” Sulakshan Kulkarni had said after the loss.

Sulakshan Kulkarni resigns:

Sulakshan Kulkarni faced severe criticism for his comments against Sai Kishore. Several big names from the state such as Dinesh Karthik, Hemang Badani, and Krishnamachari Srikkanth slammed him for his comments. It looked highly unlikely that Kulkarni would continue as the coach after the comments and according to reports, he has decided to step down.

According to a report in The Times of India, Kulkarni has already informed TNCA of his intention to part ways. In 2023, he signed a multi-season deal with the TNCA but decided to leave the team after just one season in charge,

“Kulkarni has sent his resignation letter to TNCA via mail, saying that he is unavailable for the coming season due to personal reasons,” a source told the news outlet.

As per reports, former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who is currently the bowling coach of the team, could be promoted as the head coach.