Sai Sudharsan.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

In a major boost to Tamil Nadu, opener B. Sai Sudharsan has recovered from his sports hernia injury and will return to action for the team’s Ranji Trophy quarterfinal clash with Vidarbha in Nagpur, starting on Saturday.

Sai Sudharsan has been out of action since the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in November and underwent surgery in the UK in December. With middle-order mainstay B. Indrajith ruled out after picking up a calf injury during the final league game against Jharkhand in Jamshedpur, Sai Sudharsan’s return has come at the right time for TN.

Meanwhile, pacer R. Sonu Yadav too has recovered from an injury that he picked during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has been included in the squad. Alongside Sonu, medium-pacer G. Govind too has been added to the 16-man contingent.

The Sai Kishore-led side lost to Jharkhand by 44 runs and made it to the knockouts by the skin of its teeth. Saurashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh all finished on 25 points but the first two made it to the last eight by virtue of having higher bonus points – three and two – respectively. TN will have its task cut out against a mighty Vidarbha in its backyard. The Akshay Wadkar-led side topped the group stage with 40 points which included six outright victories out of seven.

The squad: R. Sai Kishore (Capt.), N. Jagadeesan (vice-capt), S. Mohamed Ali, B. Sai Sudharsan, Boopathi Vaishna Kumar, Vijay Shankar, C. Andre Siddarth, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, M. Mohammed, S. Ajith Ram, R. Sonu Yadav, H. Trilok Nag, C.V. Achyuth, S. Lokeshwar, M. Siddharth, G. Govind.