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Sulakshan Kulkarni's tenure as head coach of the Tamil Nadu cricket team has come to an abrupt end, just two weeks after a openly blaming Sai Kishore for team's defeat at the recently-concluded Ranji Trophy 2023-2024 semifinal.
Sulakshan Kulkarni sacked as Tamil Nadu's head coach
Sulakshan Kulkarni was appointed as Tamil Nadu's head coach last year and under his guidance, his team reached the knockout stages of the Ranji Trophy for the first time since the 2016/17 season in a big achievement.
However, things took a turn for the worse following their semifinal loss to current Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai. Kulkarni publicly criticised captain R Sai Kishore, blaming him for Tamil Nadu's defeat in Ranji Trophy semifinal. He claimed Kishore deviated from the team's plan by opting to bat first and suggested the match was lost at the toss itself. This outburst strained his relationship with both the board and the players.
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Sulakshan Kulkarni blamed Sai Kishore for Tamil Nadu's semifinal defeat
“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,” Kulkarni had said after Tamil Nadu's defeat in Ranji Trophy semifinal.
Blaming Sai Kishore backfires Sulakshan Kulkarni
The tide turned swiftly against Kulkarni following his public criticism of Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore. Prominent figures from the state cricket scene, including Dinesh Karthik, Hemang Badani, and Krishnamachari Srikkanth, heavily criticised his remarks on Sai Kishore. In the wake of this controversy, Kulkarni's future as coach seemed bleak. According to reports in The Times of India, these developments culminated in Kulkarni's resignation. Despite signing a multi-season deal with TNCA in 2023, his reign ended after just one turbulent season. Notably, Tamil Nadu's current bowling coach Lakshmipati Balaji might be considered for the top spot as per reports.
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