Sai Kishore with Tamil Nadu team [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]Tamil Nadu have set the tone for their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 campaign by placing their red-ball hopes in the hands of a familiar leader. The state side has named its squad for the opening fixture, with a few established domestic names joined by players who made an impact last season. With the new Ranji season set to begin in October, Tamil Nadu will look to build on their long history in the competition and make a strong start against Rajasthan with a strong squad.Tamil Nadu announce Ranji Trophy squad, Sai Kishore to leadTamil Nadu have announced a 16-member squad for their opening Ranji Trophy 2026-27 fixture against Rajasthan, with R Sai Kishore continuing as captain and Andre Siddharth named his deputy.The first-round match is scheduled to begin on October 11, 2026, marking Tamil Nadu's start to the new domestic first-class season.Sai Kishore has increasingly become synonymous with Tamil Nadu's red-ball setup. He was appointed the team's full-time captain ahead of the 2023-24 season and immediately helped the side produce one of its strongest campaigns in recent years.Also Read- Hyderabad Squad For Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Announced; Mohammed Siraj Named CaptainUnder his leadership, Tamil Nadu secured three consecutive outright victories in the 2023-24 league stage, topped Group C and reached the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. Sai Kishore also produced a remarkable individual campaign, finishing with more than 50 wickets.Despite proving his mettle in the Ranji Trophy as well as County Cricket, Sai Kishore has persistently been ignored by the BCCI selection committee, with the Indian team preferring Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja as the frontline left-arm spinners in the Test setup. Sai Kishore will now lead the side into another campaign, while also bringing his experience as a left-arm spinner. In the 2025-26 Ranji season, he picked up 20 wickets in six matches, with an economy rate of 2.65.Andre Siddharth vice-captain, Jagadeesan includedThe squad features a blend of experience and emerging batting talent, with Andre Siddharth named vice-captain and veteran wicketkeeper-batter N Jagadeesan also included.Tamil Nadu's full squad for Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Sai Kishore (C), Andre Siddharth (VC), Ajitesh G, Ajith Ram S, Athish SR, Deepesh D, Govinth G, Hemchudeshan J, Indrajith B, Jagadeesan N, Nidhish S Rajagopal, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Pranav Ragavendra, Saravana Kumar P, Sonu Yadav and Vimal Khumar RSeveral members arrive with useful numbers from the previous Ranji season. Pradosh Ranjan Paul was Tamil Nadu's leading run-scorer among the selected players, making 564 runs in seven matches at an average of 56.40, including an unbeaten 201.Vimal Khumar R also enjoyed an eye-catching campaign, scoring 412 runs in four matches at 68.66, with a highest score of 189.Andre Siddharth also contributed 409 runs in seven matches, while B Indrajith scored 401 runs in five matches at 66.83. Meanwhile, Sai Kishore himself was the highest wicket-taker in the previous season with 20 wickets from 9 innings.Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy performance over the yearsTamil Nadu have a deep Ranji Trophy history but have not lifted the title since the 1987-88 season.Their two championships came in 1954-55, when they defeated Holkar, and 1987-88, when they beat Railways. The team has also finished runners-up six times. The most recent final appearance came in 2014-15, when Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs.The 2026-27 campaign therefore offers another opportunity for one of India's historically prominent domestic sides to add a new chapter to its Ranji story.Also Read- Delhi Capitals' Former IPL Ace Announces Retirement From Cricket
