Tamil Nadu U-23 Captain Boopathi Fulfills Childhood Dream with Trophy Win
When M Boopathi Vaishna Kumar, the son of a farmer, used to watch matches from beyond the fences at the NPR College Ground in his hometown Dindigul, he dreamt of one day playing competitive cricket at that very venue. On Wednesday, that dream came full circle as he lifted his first major trophy—the Col CK Nayudu Trophy (men’s Under-23)—as captain of Tamil Nadu, defeating Maharashtra by seven wickets.
A Journey from Spectator to Champion
Boopathi’s journey into cricket began at the age of 13, inspired by his father and uncle who played local cricket. "As a kid, I always thought that at least once I should play at the NPR Ground. It was a dream back then," he recalled. "When we came here with friends, we would wonder, ‘Will they let us in?’ ‘Will I play here one day?’ That eagerness was always there."
The victory was made even more special by the presence of his family and childhood coach Venkataraman, who supported him during the early stages. "It was nice to have them around, though there was a bit of pressure as well. They were happy to see me lift the cup and lead the team," the skipper said.
Match Highlights and Domestic Double
Resuming the day at 309-8, Tamil Nadu were bowled out for 334 in their first innings, securing a 96-run lead. In the extended third session, Maharashtra were dismissed for 161 in their second innings, setting a target of 66 runs. Tamil Nadu chased it down in 20 overs on the penultimate day to seal the victory.
This win completed a grand domestic double for the Tamil Nadu U-23 men, who had earlier emerged champions of the BCCI State One-Day Trophy. Brief scores:
- Maharashtra: 238 & 161 in 53.2 overs (Niraj Joshi 55; P Vignesh 3-42, Sachin Rathi 3-57)
- Tamil Nadu: 334 in 115.5 overs (Kiran Karthikeyan 86; Abhishek Nishad 4-71, Kiran Chormale 3-62) & 67-3 in 20 overs
Tamil Nadu won by 7 wickets. Player of the Final: Kiran Karthikeyan (TN). Player of the Tournament: Sachin Rathi (TN).
Overcoming Senior Team Disappointment
This double comes as a delightful ending to Tamil Nadu’s domestic season, especially after the senior team endured a horrendous campaign. Seven players from this U-23 squad—including Boopathi, Mohamed Ali, G Govindh, Sachin Rathi, SR Athish, Sunny Sandhu, and Amit Sathvik—were part of that struggling senior side.
Boopathi emphasized the importance of recovery from disappointment. "Ups and downs are part of the game. How quickly we recover from that was the focus," he said. "We were disappointed, but we should enjoy cricket. We wanted to win big so that people would take notice. All of us had this mindset. We knew that if we won, things would change for us and for the future of TN cricket."
Coaching Continuity and Team Dynamics
What worked in Tamil Nadu U-23s’ favor was the continuity in the support staff. Most players have been training under head coach Guru Kedarnath since their Under-16 days. Boopathi highlighted that familiarity, along with the clarity and freedom provided by the coaches, proved pivotal.
"The coach has known us since we were 16-year-olds and he stayed with us as we kept progressing," said the 23-year-old left-hand batter, who accumulated 400 runs in the tournament. "V Maruthi Raghav, the assistant coach, and Kanan, the trainer and physio, were extremely supportive. We had open conversations and were given the freedom to speak. Communication played a major role. Because of that, all of us took responsibility and our game awareness improved."
Top Performers of the Tournament
The tournament saw outstanding individual performances:
- Batting: Kiran Karthikeyan led with 668 runs.
- Bowling: Sachin Rathi dominated with 58 wickets.
This victory not only marks a personal milestone for Boopathi but also signals a promising future for Tamil Nadu cricket, driven by a resilient and cohesive young team.
