The much-awaited T20 bash — KSCA Maharaja Trophy — is back with a bang. The premier tournament which paves way for the budding cricketers and the experienced to showcase their talent will be held between Aug. 15 and Sept. 1 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. 

Our city’s own Mysore Warriors team, which ended up as the runners-up in the last season, will be eyeing to lay their hands on the coveted trophy this season. The team owned by Cycle Pure Agarbathi has managed to select the best bunch of the players during the players’ auction held on July 25.

While Karun Nair will be leading Mysore Warriors for the third consecutive time, the team has some of best exciting young players from the State who have the potential to represent State and the Country at the highest level. Players like Dhanush Gowda, who was a part of U-19 India team, Harshil Dharmani, Samit Dravid and E.J. Jasper are players to look out for in this season. 

Apart from the youngsters, Mysore Warriors will also feature the experienced players like J. Suchith, M. Venkatesh, K. Gowtham, Prasidh Krishna and C.A. Karthik who have proved their potential at the highest level. 

Rx. Murali, batting coach for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women’s Team that won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) this year, will continue as the Head Coach while former Karnataka players Vijay Madyalkar and Aditya B. Sagar are the Assistant Coaches.  

Mysore Warriors will open their campaign against Shivamogga Lions tomorrow at 7 pm.

The matches will be telecast live on Star Sports Kannada, Star Sports 2 channels, while online streaming will be available on Fancode.

The Knight behind the Warriors

City’s N.R. Group, the makers of Cycle Pure Agarbathi, is a well-known business house across the globe. The company famous for its wide range of products is also known for its charitable works and for encouraging local sports talents coming out of Mysuru. Since the inception of the then Karnataka Premier League, now KSCA Maharaja Trophy T20 Tournament, the NR Group, the owners of Mysore Warriors franchise, has been encouraging the cricketers providing them with best of the facilities both on and off the field.

Star of Mysore caught up with Arjun Ranga, Managing Director of Cycle Pure Agarbathi and owner of Mysore Warriors to talk about the team’s preparations for this year’s tournament. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): Can you let us know about the planning that was done ahead of this year’s auction?

Arjun Ranga: We had a good team last year. However, we fell short of a fast bowler owing to Prasidh’s unavailability. This year we wanted to strengthen our fast bowling department and with only one experienced spinner in Suchith, we wanted to have an experienced spin attack. Our batting department being the strongest, we wanted to maintain the same level of consistency. We have got a much better all-round team this year, which we intended to have before going into the auction.

SOM: What was the idea behind the Talent  Hunt  when you could have picked the entire squad from the auction?

Arjun Ranga: We had an extremely good Talent Hunt this year. There are a lot of talented players from Mysuru already playing in KSCA Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament for different teams. This year we were able to identify at least 10 youngsters with good potential from the catchment area. Looking at our team composition and after several rounds of discussions, we chose Kishan Bedare and Gowtham Sagar to be a part of Mysore Warriors.

SOM: Earlier the matches were being played in Tier-2 cities. Now the entire tournament is being held in Bengaluru. Don’t you think the matches should also be held in mofussil centres?

Arjun Ranga: We definitely want to play in mofussil centers across the State where there is more crowd participation. Bengaluru as it is sees a lot of cricket including the international matches as well as the IPL. Cities like Mysuru, Hubballi and Shivamogga rarely get to witness high-quality matches. But the challenge the KSCA is facing is that the BCCI has given the window for the Maharaja Trophy from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1 during the monsoon season. We all know that the Chinnaswamy Stadium is the only stadium with SubAir system, a high-tech drainage system, which helps the ground staff to prepare the wicket and the ground within half-an-hour in case of rainfall. Under these circumstances, KSCA has no choice but to organise the tournament in Bengaluru. If BCCI                                              gives us a different window, which the KSCA is trying to get, matches will come back to Tier-2 cities.

SOM: N.R. Group has always been at the forefront when it comes to encouraging upcoming sportspersons from the city irrespective of the sport. Could you deliberate on this?

Arjun Ranga: I remember in my younger days how difficult it was for a Mysuru-based sportsperson to make it to the next level. So as a family, we brothers came together and decided to support upcoming sportspersons from Mysuru as much as possible and that is how the Mysore Warriors are also a part of the NR family along with other sportspersons. Be it tennis, badminton, golf, athletics or any sport, we will try to support them to the best of our abilities.

SOM: Having supported many sportspersons over the years, are you happy with their performances?

Arjun Ranga: Definitely yes. If you look at the sporting talents we have supported in the last decade be it in any sports apart from cricket, they have all gone on to reach great heights at the national level. Sports build characters. At NR Group we will continue to support sports and sportspersons coming from our city and hope they will bring laurels to our country.—VNS

Leading Mysore Warriors is always an honour: Karun Nair

More than 7,000 runs in first-class cricket and 3,000 runs in T20s and of course the triple century against England in Chennai in 2016 speaks volumes about Karun Nair’s cricketing abilities. Having represented Karnataka and Vidarbha in first-class cricket, this talented player has been a part of several T20 franchisees including KXIP, KKR, Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals and RCB previously. Currently, he is a part of Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Playing for Northamptonshire at the English County this year, Karun scored 202 not out against Glamorgan. Karun Nair, who is a part of KSCA Maharaja Trophy franchise Mysore Warriors, will be leading the team for the third consecutive time this year. Star of Mysore caught up with skipper for a brief chat as the team gears up for this year’s tournament. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): How has the team been preparing for this year’s tournament?

Karun Nair: Firstly, we have managed to pick a really good balanced team similar to last year. We have focused on bridging the gaps we had in the last season. Mysore Warriors as a franchise has done well. The team has always entered the last stages of the tournament with featuring in the finals last season. This year, we are confident of emerging as champions.

SOM: How is it to be a part of the Mysore Warriors franchise?

Karun Nair: It is great to be part of Mysore Warriors and to be given the responsibility of leading the team which I think is the best in the entire tournament is an honour. We have the best backing from the team owners and management and as players we cannot ask for more from them. They have provided us with best of the facilities a player needs both on and off the field. With things being taken care by the management to create a positive atmosphere around us, we as players just need to go out there and express ourselves.

SOM: With a lot of youngsters being a part of Mysore Warriors team, how do you see the future of Karnataka cricket?

Karun Nair: I think we have a balanced team of both young and experienced players. This year, we have a lot of exciting players than the previous years because we managed to pick young and upcoming players who are doing well in the various age group levels which is a good sign for Karnataka cricket. It’s a great opportunity for them to play under pressure and in front of the crowd. If few of them can take their game to the next level it is going to help them to build a bright future.

SOM: How was your stint with Northamptonshire?

Karun Nair: Northamptonshire was a really good experience. Last year I played three matches for them and this year seven. It was a great opportunity and experience. To do well in England is not an easy task for a batter and me to do well in England gave me great confidence, hopefully, those performances count.

SOM: Speaking about your career. You are among two Indian cricketers to score triple centuries. Do you think you were given less chance at the international level?

Karun Nair: It’s been long now. I do not know what to say. I always focused on going out there performing well and keep trying my best.  If I keep performing well I am sure of getting an opportunity.

SOM: Are you eyeing making a comeback into the Indian team?

Karun Nair: Yes. Of course. I am only 32-year-old. I don’t have to look far for inspiration for players who have made comebacks much later in their career. There is nothing to stop me from making a comeback. I just have to go there and express myself with consistent performances like how I have been doing for the past one-and-a-half years.

We have a balanced team: Rx Murali

Rx Murali, a popular and successful coach among the cricketing fraternity, has been associated with Mysore Warriors since the season one of Karnataka Premier League (KPL) and now KSCA Maharaja Trophy. He has groomed many players who have done exceedingly well at the national level. He is also the batting coach of the RCB Women’s team which won the WPL this year. Star of Mysore spoke to the Head Coach of Mysore Warriors to get more insights into the team’s preparations for this year’s tournament. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): You have been the head coach of Mysore Warriors since the first season. What do you have to say about this year’s team?

Rx Murali: It is a very exciting team as there is a mix of talented young cricketers who have been doing well in the U-19 and U-23 age group level and experienced players who have  done exceedingly well.

SOM: Last season, the team did extremely well except for the finals. Your thoughts?

Rx Murali: I don’t think we need to change much. I look at it from a different perspective. We did very well in the entire tournament to reach the finals. I would  say that we were in the hunt till the last over. It is about continuously making the right decisions at the right time and that is something we need to get better each time we go out there.

SOM: Having practice sessions in Mysuru, how do you think it will help the team’s preparations considering different ground conditions in Bengaluru?

Rx Murali: Cricket is one sport where conditions are changing constantly be it the weather, the condition of the ground, the wicket and the ball as well. It is a unique game where you will never get to play in the same condition throughout the day. Good cricketers are the ones who adapt to different conditions and execute their skills on the field.

SOM: How important are tournaments like these for budding cricketers?

Rx Murali: Fortunately or unfortunately, tournaments like these play an important role for cricketers. The tournament is televised and it is very popular. Though we have the Syed Mushtaq                                               Ali Tournament at the national level, somehow it has failed to catch the attention of the public. So in a tournament    like this, a player will be noticed fast if he delivers well under pressure and his journey becomes easy.

SOM: You were a part of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and Maharaja Trophy as well. Do you see the change in how the game is being played?

Rx Murali: Both are similar tournaments but their characteristics are slightly different. It goes by the condition and to environment the players are exposed. In Karnataka, the wickets are bouncy and are good for pacers. Our batters play well against them as well. But, in TNPL there are a lot of spinners and batters play well against them. Our response is a little different. We are more aggressive as players while they are more cautious. The game is very exciting in TNPL as there are a lot of left-handers when  compared to Karnataka.

SOM: Coming back to Mysore Warriors, what do you have to say about Cycle Pure Agarbathi and NR Group?

Rx Murali: The management has the right intent which is m ost important for a cricket team. Be it any sport Cycle Pure Agarbathi has always given opportunities to talented players. I am lucky to be associated with them right from day one as every season I get to learn and become a better person.

SOM: How was the experience with the RCB Women’s team as a  batting coach?

Rx Murali:  This season with RCB was once in a lifetime experience. The feeling of emerging as champions has been phenomenal. From the day we started working for the tournament and till the last day, energy remained constant and the trust within the team was so good that we were confident of winning the tournament and so we did.—VNS