Murali Vijay gave his 100% whenever he played for Tamil Nadu: Hrishikesh Kanitkar

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar was a disappointed man at the end of his side's loss to Madhya Pradesh at the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash here on Friday evening. In a chat, Kanitkar spoke about Tamil Nadu's season, his stint with the team and more. Excerpts:
What's your take on the third loss for Tamil Nadu in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy?
I thought we had scored just above par as it was a very good pitch to bat on.But, we should have converted the chances and bowled better.
Where did you feel the team went wrong?
We were conceding boundaries right through the innings and the moment you start doing that — you can't control the game as the batsmen don't feel the pressure at all. We also missed a couple of chances which according to me. When you are defending a target, you can't do that just with your bowling, you need to take wickets and we didn't get wickets.
Opener Murali Vijay has been left out of the TN squad for not reporting for the Mumbai game. Did he inform you about his unavailability? Did he give his 100 % each time he played for the state side?
Yes, I was informed by him. I knew right from the beginning (of the match) who was going to play in place of Vijay. It had something to do with the shoulder and I don't exactly know the technical part. Yes, Vijay gave his 100% whenever he turned up for Tamil Nadu.
Do you feel the state team combination gets affected when international stars such as Vijay or R Ashwin come in?
I don't think it should affect the side as it happens for every first-class team that has international players in it.
Teams at the Vijay Hazare Trophy have played 4 games in 5 days. Has the fatigue factor played its part in Tamil Nadu's performance?
I think it's the case for all the teams. I feel it's tough to play this many matches in such short time. But, we can't give it as a reason (for not doing well).
How do you view your ongoing stint with the Tamil Nadu team? Do you feel you can make a difference to the side going forward?
We had a two-year contract and it comes for renewal this year. I haven't yet spoken to the TNCA as the season is still on. There are a lot of good things that's happening in this team. A lot of good players are there and they need guidance on how to approach the game. The way you play local cricket and the way you play first class cricket are different. Somebody like me from outside might be able to help.