This is Kerala’s 1983 moment, says Ananthapadmanabhan on its maiden Ranji final appearance

Former spinner turned umpire K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan praises Kerala's Ranji Trophy journey, highlighting key players and emphasizing the need for young talent.

He may be better known as an umpire now, but K.N. Anathapadmanabhan was one of the best spinners in India’s domestic cricket for years, with 344 First Class wickets. He was also the captain when Kerala qualified for the Ranji Trophy knock-out stage for the first time in 1994-95. Twenty years later, Kerala is in the final of India’s premier domestic tournament.

And Ananthapadmanabhan is delighted.

“This is Kerala’s 1983 moment,” he tells The Hindu. “It is a great achievement and this place in the final is earned by Kerala.”

In the final starting at Nagpur on Wednesday, Kerala will take on Vidarbha. Ananthapadmanabhan, who was the TV umpire of the semifinal in which Vidarbha beat Mumbai, believes it should be an exciting contest.

“Vidarbha is perhaps the most balanced side in the Ranji Trophy,” he says. “They have a strong batting line-up and an excellent bowling attack. I am particularly impressed by their left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, who needs just three more wickets to be a Ranji season’s most successful bowler. Seamer Yash Thakur is also quite good.”

Ananthapadmanabhan feels Kerala has the team to stop the host. “The way Kerala has fought back from tough situations on several occasions has been remarkable,” he says.

“Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen were brilliant with the bat, and it was great to see the tail-enders putting up a brave display time after time.”