Rajkot: Tamil Nadu captain S. Badrinath has fallen victim to a bug at the most inopportune time. With mere two points from three matches, Tamil Nadu takes on Saurashtra from Sunday at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium.

Doubts must be assailing the minds of its players on whether their chief batsman would recover from it to bat and spend long hours on the field. Badrinath missed the team's practice sessions for two days here, but coach W.V. Raman thinks that he would be ready for the toss.

TN's performance

Clearly things have not really gone in Tamil Nadu's favour in the tournament so far. The team's performance in key areas has been quite patchy and largely dependent on a handful of players. Regarded by chief National selector Dilip Vengsarkar as a Team India potential, Badrinath has made material contribution to the side this season. The right-hander showed his steadfast virtue against Delhi with a century, followed it up with a half century against Andhra, and showed that the team's batting fortunes revolves around him.

Tamil Nadu also found a quality player in newcomer M. Vijay, who demonstrated ambition to score. Vijay has been consistent with scores of 59, 38, 179, 34 and 32 not out. Currently he is the leading run getter (342) in the National championship.

Sharath's feat

TN's seasoned campaigner S. Sharath is all set to play his 100th Ranji Trophy match here and make it memorable. Sharath will have his task cut out, should Badrinath pulls out.

Saurashtra has two fine seamers in S. Maniar and S. Jobanputra and quality left-arm spinners in Nayan Doshi and Rakesh Dhruv. Left-hand batsman Sitanshu Kotak has been performing steadily, but the rest of the batsmen have looked vulnerable.

Placed sixth now in the League, TN has a chance to move up before it locks horns with tougher customers.

On the other hand, Saurashtra, the last season's Plate League winner, has to score runs, bowl well and more importantly take the catches that come its way.

The teams: Tamil Nadu (from): S. Badrinath (captain), S. Anirudha, M. Vijay, R. Ashwin, R. Jesuraj, V. Yomahesh, R. Naresh, R. Prasanna, R. Sathish, S. Sharath, C. Suresh, K. Varun Kumar, K. Shri Vasudeva Das, G. Vignesh, S. Viswanathan.

Saurashtra (from): J.N. Shah (captain), R.V. Dhruv, R.A. Jadeja, S.P. Jobanputra, S.D. Jogiyani, P.P. Joshi, A.B. Kamalia, S.H. Kotak, K.R. Makvana, S.M. Maniar, P.S. Mehta, S.K. Natkan, C.A. Pujara, K.M. Vaghela, N.D. Doshi.

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