Vijay Shankar Ends 13-Year Tamil Nadu Stint, Moves to New State Ahead of 2025–26 Season
In a significant last-minute move, veteran allrounder Vijay Shankar has parted ways with Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2025–26 Indian domestic season. The 34-year-old has been granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), effectively ending a 13-year association with his home state.
The decision comes after Vijay featured in the first round of the Buchi Babu Tournament for the TNCA President’s XI but was left out of the second-round fixture against Maharashtra. ESPNcricinfo understands that the snub prompted the experienced allrounder to seek a transfer in search of more consistent playing opportunities across formats.
A Decorated Stint Comes to a Close
Vijay debuted for Tamil Nadu in the 2012–13 Ranji Trophy season and soon became a key figure in the middle order, stepping into the shoes of S Badrinath. Over the years, he captained Tamil Nadu to titles in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and was instrumental in shaping the team’s white-ball dominance.
He leaves Tamil Nadu with an impressive 3142 runs in 81 Ranji innings at an average of 44.25, including 11 centuries and 16 fifties. With the ball, he picked up 43 wickets with his medium pace. His standout Ranji season came in 2014–15, when he scored 577 runs at 57.70.
Vijay’s form had waned in recent seasons, with the 2024–25 campaign seeing him sit out the first two Ranji games and much of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, he showed glimpses of his best with a career-best 150 against Chandigarh*, underlining his continued value.
Reinvention and New Beginnings
Notably, Vijay has recently experimented with mystery spin, training under Varun Chakravarthy and bowling carrom balls and wrong’uns — a reinvention that could benefit his new team.
His departure follows a similar move by fellow senior cricketer B Aparajith, who shifted to Kerala ahead of the 2024–25 season.
Tamil Nadu Face Injury Setbacks, Turn to Youth
Tamil Nadu, meanwhile, are grappling with injury concerns ahead of the new season. Star spinners R Sai Kishore and S Ajith Ram are both sidelined — Kishore with a hand injury and Ajith Ram, who was the third-highest wicket-taker in last season’s Ranji Trophy, facing a longer recovery.
To fill the void left by Vijay, the selectors have called up RS Ambrish, an 18-year-old allrounder who recently impressed with India Under-19s in England. A promising finisher with the bat and a hard-length bowler, Ambrish was also recently summoned to bowl to Ruturaj Gaikwad at the CSK academy in Chennai.
New Coaching Setup for TN
Tamil Nadu also begin the new season under a revamped coaching team. M Senthilnathan, a former Ranji Trophy-winning cricketer, has taken over as head coach, replacing L Balaji. Former India seamer T Kumaran, who has returned after a coaching stint in the USA, has been appointed as bowling coach.
As Tamil Nadu undergo a transition phase with youth and new leadership, Vijay Shankar now begins a new chapter in his domestic cricket journey — one that could offer him the fresh start and opportunities he’s looking for.