Tamil Nadu has implemented a split-coaching system mid-season in response to their poor performance in the Ranji Trophy. The team has not secured a win after four rounds, placing them near the bottom of the Elite Group B standings.
Former left-arm spinner Venkataramana will take over as head coach for the white-ball tournaments, specifically the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, while the current head coach, Senthilnathan, will complete the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. This decision was finalized at an emergency meeting of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) following a significant defeat to Andhra in the fourth round, although rumblings of a coaching change had been present earlier.
The TNCA's press release did not specify Senthilnathan's future role beyond the Ranji season. This marks the third coaching alteration for Tamil Nadu in the last two years.
The previous season saw Sulakshan Kulkarni removed as head coach less than a year into his contract amid internal team discontent, with L Balaji then stepping in. Senthilnathan, a former chief selector, replaced Balaji before the current 2025-26 season commenced.
In parallel, Varun Chakravarthy has been appointed captain for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, his first leadership role, ahead of other potential candidates. Tamil Nadu is grouped with several strong teams, including Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, Jharkhand, and Saurashtra, for the T20 competition.
