Homecomings are synonymous with skilled sportsperson. For Sulakshan Kulkarni, the Tamil Nadu head coach, Friday was one such event when his aspect skilled on the Dadoji Konddev Stadium forward of its Vijay Hazare Trophy Group E opener in opposition to Goa.
Having grown up within the central metropolis adjoining to Mumbai, Kulkarni – the previous Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter – spent his youth in and across the stadium that was inaugurated in 1982.
“I’ve actually seen this stadium developing from the scratch and I’ve the fondest of recollections from taking part in right here, proper from a star-studded invitational match organised quickly after the stadium was prepared,” Kulkarni informed The Hindu on Friday.
“Returning to the identical venue as a coach, that too with a formidable aspect like Tamil Nadu, is particular.”
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After making his First Class debut for Railways in 1985-86, Kulkarni made his maiden Ranji Trophy look for Mumbai at his residence floor the next season. Nearly a decade later, he scored a gutsy 96 and a daddy hundred – 161 – in successive Ranji outings in opposition to Maharashtra and Saurashtra, respectively.
The latter, in January 1996, turned out to be the final of the six Ranji matches hosted by the stadium. After being within the doldrums for over twenty years, the stadium owned by the Thane Municipal Company has been revived over the past 4 years.
In addition to internet hosting age-group matches, the stadium is staging Vijay Hazare Trophy video games for the second time within the final three seasons.
“That is such a sporting wicket and a correct stadium. Now with the authorities including floodlights, I simply hope that the big-league cricket retains coming again to my hometown in order that I can maintain coming again right here time and again,” signed off Kulkarni, with a large smile.