Completing a rare double unmatched, says coach Guru Kedarnath

Tamil Nadu’s maiden Col. C. K. Nayudu Trophy triumph marked the culmination of a memorable u-23 season, with the side also clinching the BCCI men’s u-23 State-A (One-Day) Trophy to complete a rare double.

Coach Guru Kedarnath called the achievement “unmatched.” He described Wednesday’s title win as an “unbelievable feeling,” particularly after the team navigated a long and fragmented campaign.

The tournament was held in two phases — Oct. 16 to Nov. 5, and Jan. 23 to Mar. 12. The State-A Trophy was held in between, from Nov. 9 to Dec. 1. Kedarnath highlighted the 52-day gap between the one-day competition and the second phase, and felt the one-day title helped sustain the momentum.

“It’s a challenge, but that’s the scheduling. We have to find ways to prepare. It was good that we won the one-day tournament and were able to carry that forward into the four-day competition,” he said.

A large overlap between the squads proved crucial. “The core remained the same, which always helps. They become the leaders on and off the field. Even when two or three new players come in, the leaders within the group drive them,” he said.

Kedarnath credited the team culture for the sustained success. “The way they took ownership and accountability was fantastic.”

Captain Boopathi Vaishna Kumar echoed the sentiment, praising the collective spirit. “Everyone was like a family. When someone went through a bad patch, everyone backed them,” he said.

Kedarnath believes the twin titles bode well for the future. “These are the feeders to the senior side. They now know what needs to be done to win and how to handle pressure in knockout games,” he said.