Tamil Nadu have appointed Andre Siddarth as vice-captain for their Ranji Trophy opening clash against Rajasthan, which begins on October 11. Sai Kishore will lead the side as captain for the match. Siddarth, aged 20, receives the responsibility in what marks a significant recognition of his contributions to the team.
Siddarth’s elevation comes after two impressive Ranji Trophy seasons, especially his maiden one in 2024-25, in which he played a vital role in Tamil Nadu’s run to the knockouts. During that campaign, he scored 612 runs across 12 innings at an average of 68. His performances caught the attention of the Indian Premier League, where he became one of the youngest players to be picked in the IPL 2025 auction, earning a deal with Chennai Super Kings.
The appointment reflects Tamil Nadu’s confidence in Siddarth’s maturity and leadership qualities despite his age. At 18, he was the second-youngest player to be picked in the IPL 2025 mega auction, behind only Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. This recognition at such a young age underscores the impact he has made in domestic cricket circles.
Meanwhile, left-arm tweaker S. Ajith Ram has made a comeback to the side after missing last season due to injury. Keep an eye on the exciting pace duo of R.D. Pranav Ragavendra and D. Deepesh, who are known for bowling at quick speeds with commendable accuracy. Pranav made his debut back in the 2024-25 season, like Siddarth. On the other hand, Deepesh has received his maiden call-up to the side.
Tamil Nadu will want to bounce back strongly after their disappointing showing in the previous edition of the Ranji Trophy. In the 2025-26 season, they finished sixth in their group, with just one win from seven matches.
Full Squad for Ranji Trophy clash against Rajasthan: Sai Kishore (captain), Andre Siddarth C (vice-captain), Ajitesh G, Indrajith B, Jagadeesan N, Nidish S Rajagopal, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Vimal Khumar R, Athish SR, Deepesh D, Ajith Ram S, Hemchudeshan, Pranav Ragavendra, Saravana Kumar P, Sonu Yadav.
