Kerala pacer Sandeep Warrier set to join Tamil Nadu for the upcoming domestic season

Sandeep Warrier, Kerala’s frontline pacer who picked 44 wickets for them in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 where they stood as the semi-finalists, has decided to leave them to join Tamil Nadu. He also represents the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) led by Dinesh Karthik, who also plays for Tamil Nadu, in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 29-year old requested the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) to accept his decision and accord a no-objection certificate to make the move formal. KCA will suffer a big blow because of this decision but they are expected to grant him permission. Meanwhile, Sreesanth is expected to return to competitive cricket after 7 years since his ban should relieve Kerala. Sreesanth should possibly be joining and featuring in the squad soon.

Decision purely based on personal reasons, clarifies Sandeep Warrier

On the other hand, Sandeep Warrier is not a new name to Tamil Nadu as he was already a trainee of the MRF pace foundation in the state from 8 years. He has been an employee of India cements in Chennai too. Though he was born in Thrissur, he married a girl out of Chennai and told that this decision to leave Kerala is purely based on personal reasons.

“I loved playing for Kerala. But there comes a time when you have to make tough choices in life. And I feel that time has now come for me. Since I started training at the MRF pace foundation almost eight years ago, my cricketing set-up has revolved around Chennai apart from the times I played for Kerala in the domestic circuit.

“Last year I got a job in Chennai and got married to a girl from Chennai too. So I think my future is going to be based out of this city. So my move to Tamil Nadu is purely due to personal reasons,” Warrier told Times of India.

He added to this by saying that there has been an extra-ordinary improvement in Kerala’s performance in the recent past. He expresses that the current players have the self-belief to bounce back and wishes for the team’s success in the coming years. Under the prevailing conditions, he would be a great addition to the Tamil Nadu pace attack which has been facing difficulties for the past few years.