Unable to seize big moments: Tamil Nadu captain Sai Kishore after Andhra defeat in Ranji Trophy

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy campaign is almost over even before it well and truly began.TN were pushed to the brink of elimination in just the fourth round of the opening phase, after enduring a four-wicket defeat to Andhra on the penultimate day of the Elite Group A match in Visakhapatnam.

On Monday, TN hit a new low – their second loss of the red-ball season – in a run of lows and stayed stuck at four points from as many games.Captain R Sai Kishore put the team’s poor performances down to the inability to seize the big moments. TN found themselves in advantageous positions in three of the four matches, only to surrender them later on and be left frustrated. “We are unable to do it (perform well in crunch moments), and we cannot deny that fact.

I cannot point out why it is happening repeatedly. Things are just not going our way. When there is a decisive session, we should conquer it.

If we cannot do that, we cannot win four-day matches,” a dejected Sai Kishore told TOI from Visakhapatnam.

For instance, TN began the third day against Andhra at 102-3 in their second innings but suffered yet another batting collapse to be bundled out for 195. Andhra, being set a target of 201, were cruising at 158-2, when they lost four wickets for just four runs.

But as has been the case with TN throughout the season, they failed to capitalise on it, and Andhra’s unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 39 runs took them home.

“When a game is in the balance and there is a decisive session, we should ensure that the game does not slip from our grasp. But it has been happening. It is definitely an area of concern,” said Sai Kishore.TN entered the Ranji season with optimism, having reached the semifinals and quarterfinals in the previous two editions, but have been found wanting in all departments this time.

The batting unit, which has undergone quite a few changes due to different reasons, has looked fragile, while the bowling attack has not been penetrative enough.“This is not the team that we had in the last two seasons. We have a lot of new youngsters coming in, this is a rebuilding phase. We have only four or five seniors in the team. I feel that it is not about skill, it is about the collective energy in the team. When there is collective energy, results will go our way.

It is something that we are lacking,” Sai Kishore said while adding that the unavailability of some key players cannot be an excuse for it.Given that TN do not have much to play for in the remaining three group clashes, what next for the southern side? Sai Kishore responded: “We should not put ourselves under pressure. If we do that, we will lose the enjoyment of playing the sport.”Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 182 & 195 in 70.3 overs (B Sachin 51; Saurabh Kumar 4-46, Tripurana Vijay 2-16, Yarra Prithvi Raj 2-31). Andhra 177 & 201-6 in 41.2 overs (Abhishek Reddy 70, Karan Shinde 51; R Sai Kishore 3-46, P Vidyuth 2-37). Andhra won by 4 wickets.