Tamil Nadu pacer Sandeep Warrier has decided to shift allegiance and will play for Chhattisgarh as a ‘Guest Player’ in the upcoming domestic season (2026-27).

The 35-year-old started his First-Class career with Kerala and became a registered TN player in 2020. Over the last five years, he has been the pace spearhead and was part of two Syed Mushtaq Ali T20-winning squads (2021, 2021-22). He also played a key role in TN reaching the Ranji Trophy semifinals in 2023-24 for the first time in a long time.

“I had a good time with TN and won two titles and was part of knockouts twice in Ranji Trophy. In every year that I was part of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the team reached the knockouts. I had a offer from Chhattisgarh and it was an amicable decision,” said Warrier.

However, last year Warrier had a forgettable campaign, taking only six wickets in the first five matches and was dropped for the final two matches.

Warrier, though, continues to ply his trade in the TNPL with Dindigul Dragons and will continue to feature in the T20 league.

TN’s Ranji fixtures

Tamil Nadu will kickstart its Ranji Trophy campaign against Rajasthan in Jaipur in the first round starting on October 11.

It will be followed by home fixtures against Uttarakhand and Railways. Chandigarh, Himachal, Mumbai and Haryana are the other teams TN will face in Elite Group-D in the upcoming season.

D. Deepesh, just 18, has created a buzz with pace for Madurai Panthers in the TNPL this season.

The 2026 u-19 World Cup winner has repeatedly crossed 140 kph, even touching 146 kph. But he’s also been varying his speed, having worked on that with mentor Sandeep Warrier during the two-week gap after the TNCA First Division League.

“I got a good idea. That’s been helpful. We didn’t just work on speed alone. We worked on slower ones and yorkers, and bowling according to the situation. Speed is my natural ability,” Deepesh said after his team’s third successive win, against SKM Salem Spartans, at the NPR College Ground here on Monday.

“Ever since I started playing in the u-19 circuit, we have spoken a lot and have been working closely. He has been very helpful to me.

“In fact, I would say he’s the only person I’ve always spoken to about my bowling. Even this morning, I spoke with him. We discuss my bowling plan before almost every match,” Deepesh, who finished with three for 38 after conceding 45 in three overs against Vida Kovai Kings, said.

The spell followed a tidy one for 25 in the opening match against Trichy Grand Cholas. The youngster acknowledged the support he received after the initial setback.

“Even after I got hit, the team didn’t let me down. They were very encouraging. The bowling coach (assistant coach A.C. Prathiban) backed me a lot. We spoke about it. Pressure got to me in that situation. So today [Monday], I focused on bowling without letting the pressure get to me,” he said.

And he delivered on the promise, taking three for 18 in his last two overs after going for 20 runs in his first two.