On a surface that “was slow” and produced occasional low balls and big turners, Kiran chose attrition over aggression, trusting his defence and focussing on occupying the crease for long periods rather than chasing runs.
“The wicket was a bit tricky even when we were bowling,” Kiran said after the day’s play. “Our plan was simple—the balls on the stump line weren’t turning much, so if we trusted our defence and prolonged the innings, the runs would come automatically.”
That clarity of approach shaped his innings. Kiran explained that the goal was to maintain discipline over long stretches and carry the innings over by over. He added 92 runs for the seventh wicket with left-hander Manav Parakh (47), helping Tamil Nadu overhaul Maharashtra’s 238 and end the day on 309 for eight.
“The idea was to sustain that discipline over by over, for as many sessions as possible. That’s what I tried to execute every ball. My partner and I kept talking about the same thing—defend the balls on the stumps, trust the defence, and keep batting,” he said.
It was important, he said, to reset mentally after each ball. “If you keep thinking that the ball is turning, you start worrying that one will take the edge. Then you tend to play shots you don’t need to and get out. The idea was to reset after every ball, even if one beat the bat.
Kiran’s composed innings underlined a productive season in which he has emerged as Tamil Nadu’s leading run-scorer with 634 runs in 13 innings at an average of 52.83, including two hundreds. He said a refined batting process was key to his prolific season.
The 19-year-old, playing his first season at the Under-23 level, said valuable lessons from last season’s Cooch Behar Trophy (U-19) and his time in the TNCA first division league, where he plays for MRC-A, helped shape his process.
“Earlier, I would just watch the ball and play and get 20s and 30s, but not make it big. To sustain that approach for a prolonged period, I realised I needed a process. I brought in a mindset that I have to bat for maximum overs.
“Instead of going in wanting to hit a hundred, if you bat for 50–60 overs, a hundred becomes a byproduct. Runs will come in phases. Even if they don’t come for ten overs, they will in the next ten. Small adjustments like that helped me in a major way,” he said.
While he has made a strong impression in red-ball cricket, Kiran insists he is equally passionate about white-ball formats. His immediate ambition is to break into the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).
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“Long term, obviously, the aim is to play for India and in the IPL,” he said.
To improve his chances in white-ball cricket, the youngster is also working on “enhancing” his “power-hitting” and refining his off-spin bowling.
“In white-ball cricket, being one-dimensional is difficult because the competition is very heavy. I bowl off-spin, and I’m working on that as well,” he said.
For now, however, Kiran’s focus remains firmly on the task at hand: helping Tamil Nadu win its maiden Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy title.
With clarity and a simple process guiding his batting, he appears well-equipped for the challenge.
Published on Mar 11, 2026
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