Tamil Nadu coach Sulakshan Kulkarni expressed his disappointment with skipper R Sai Kishore's decision-making during the Mumbai vs Tamil Nadu semi-final of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24. Kulkarni believed that Kishore made a crucial error by choosing to bat first after winning the toss on a green-top pitch.

Addressing the media on March 4 (Monday), following the match's conclusion, Kulkarni remarked that Tamil Nadu essentially lost the semi-final at 9:00 AM on the first day of the game due to this decision.

"I always speak straightforward -- we lost the match at 9 o'clock on day one. The moment I saw the wicket I exactly knew what we were going to get. Everything was set, we won the toss, as a coach, as a Mumbaikar, I know the conditions well. We should have bowled but the captain had some different instinct," said Sulakshan Kulkarni after the coach as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Tamil Nadu Were No Match For Mumbai

Sai Kishore's decision to bat first proved to be detrimental as Tamil Nadu found themselves struggling at 42 for 5 in the first session. Their batting woes persisted, and they were eventually bowled out for 146. In response, Mumbai posted a formidable total of 378 in their first innings. Tamil Nadu could only muster 162 in their second innings,