Tamil Nadu Aims for Redemption Against UP in Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Round 5 Clash

This season of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy has been challenging for Tamil Nadu, with disappointing performances both at batting and bowling.

As the First Class games pause to make way for the white-ball tournaments, Tamil Nadu aims to straighten its course in the Elite Group-A match against Uttar Pradesh, hosted at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground starting Sunday.

R. Sai Kishore and his team need an outright win in this home game to remain in the race for qualification once the competition picks back up in January, with the knockout stages still within a thin reach.

Currently, Tamil Nadu sits in sixth place in Group A, having only amassed four points across four games. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, strengthened by the return of aggressive left-hander Rinku Singh, fresh off India’s T20I series against Australia, sits fourth with 14 points.

While their match against Baroda was washed out, the innings win over Nagaland in the previous round was crucial for Karan Sharma’s side.

If the overcast conditions on Saturday persist, the UP bowling lineup, featuring Shivam Mavi and Aaqib Khan, could exploit weaknesses in Tamil Nadu’s batting lineup.

Apart from the Nagaland match, where Tamil Nadu scored a hefty 512 for three declared, the team has failed to surpass 300 runs in their six innings this season.

N. Jagadeesan, a key member of Tamil Nadu’s top six, is feeling the pressure. Having been part of India’s Test squad for the West Indies series in Rishabh Pant’s absence, his recent scores for Tamil Nadu read 3, 21, 19, and 0, reflecting a slump.

All eyes are on Rinku Singh for UP. Though often seen as a white-ball specialist, his average of 57.39 in 51 First-Class matches proves his potential in the longer format.

Published on Nov 15, 2025