Date:24/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/24/stories/2007042402511800.htm

Sport

A collective effort: Raman

Special Correspondent

BUBBLY BUNCH: The jubilant Tamil Nadu players after winning the Twenty20 tournament. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

Chennai: Tamil Nadu cricket team coach W.V. Raman said a collective effort enabled the State side triumph in the all-India Twenty20 championship.

Tamil Nadu defeated Punjab in the final in Mumbai on Saturday.

This was also a competition where the India stars took part.

"This is a format where an individual cannot make a huge difference. Everybody had to contribute. We want to make this a habit," Raman told The Hindu.

The side was without captain S. Badrinath and senior batsman Hemang Badani — both suffered injuries — for the last few games and Raman gave credit to the youngsters in the side.

"They played well and the victory should give them the belief for the challenges ahead."

The State coach selected the wins over Mumbai and Punjab as most memorable — "Both of them were good sides."

Raman picked S. Vidyut, V. Devendran and S. Anirudha (in batting) and C. Ganapathy and R. Aswin (in bowling) for special mention.

He was pleased with the side's fielding and added a few dropped skiers might have been due to the cricketers not being used to playing under lights.