# Sai Kishore to lead TN Ranji squad, deepesh gets maiden call-up

2026-09-21T20:02:15+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

R. Sai Kishore will captain Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season starting next month. The TNCA senior selection committee picked a 16-member squad for the opening fixture against Rajasthan in Jaipur from October 11 to 14. Left-arm spinner S. Ajith Ram returns after missing last season through injury. Pacers D. Deepesh received his maiden call-up and R.D. Pranav Ragavendra, who debuted in 2024-25, were selected for their brisk pace. "In three years they will be the backbone of our attack," selection committee chairman Sunil Subramanian said. C. Andre Siddarth, 20, TN's third-highest run-scorer last season with 409 runs, was named vice-captain. Opener B. Sachin missed out, Subramanian cited back-up wicketkeeper S.R. Athish and G. Ajitesh's practice-match performance.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both reports are effectively identical wire-style coverage of the TNCA selection committee announcement. The key framing choice is identical across sources: the selection committee's quoted rationale for dropping opener B. Sachin (back-up wicketkeeper and practice-match performance) is reported without any independent comment from Sachin, his coach, or a players' association. The uniform straight-reporting stance means the committee's version stands unchallenged. That is the story's only potential tension: whether selection transparency practices in Indian domestic cricket invite scrutiny. The squad plays Rajasthan in Jaipur from October 11.

## Coverage

- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/andre-siddarth-appointed-tamil-nadu-vice-captain-for-ranji-trophy/article71492853.ece>
  Straight news-agency style selection report, no independent scrutiny of the omitted player's exclusion
- sportstar.thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/sai-kishore-tamil-nadu-captain-ranji-trophy-2026-27/article71492909.ece>
  Identical selection report, no editorial framing beyond the committee's quoted explanation

Tags: C. Andre Siddarth, R. Sai Kishore, Rajasthan, Ranji Trophy, TNCA
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sai-kishore-to-lead-tn-ranji-squad-deepesh-gets-maiden-call-up/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sai-kishore-to-lead-tn-ranji-squad-deepesh-gets-maiden-call-up/#story-in-brief