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Badrinath mulls Vidarbha move

Having been a mainstay of the Tamil Nadu middle order for nearly 14 years, S Badrinath could play for Vidarbha next season

Having scored more than 6000 runs in 85 first-class matches for Tamil Nadu, S Badrinath is mulling a move to Vidarbha  •  Sivaraman Kitta

Having scored more than 6000 runs in 85 first-class matches for Tamil Nadu, S Badrinath is mulling a move to Vidarbha  •  Sivaraman Kitta

Having been a mainstay of the Tamil Nadu middle order for nearly 14 years, S Badrinath could turn out for Vidarbha in the 2014-15 season. Since making his debut in the 2000-01 season, Badrinath has played 85 first-class matches for Tamil Nadu, scoring over 6000 runs, including 22 centuries, at an average of nearly 57.
"I'm in the process of finalising the move," he told to ESPNcricinfo. "I need to get an NOC from the TNCA, and then sign a contract with Vidarbha."
If Vidarbha seal Badrinath's transfer, they can look forward to a significantly strengthened batting line-up, having already signed Ganesh Satish from Karnataka. Satish, who scored a match-winning century in last season's Ranji Trophy final, said he was disappointed he hadn't been a regular for Karnataka across all formats.
Like Satish, Badrinath also couldn't hold down a place across formats. Last season, he made 540 runs at 49.09 in the Ranji Trophy, including a century and three fifties, and also featured for Tamil Nadu in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, he wasn't picked for the state's squad for the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Subsequently, Badrinath went unsold at the IPL player auction, having been a regular for Chennai Super Kings for six seasons. Not being signed at the auction, he later said, felt like a "blow to my chest".
Asked what had prompted the decision to seek a move, Badrinath said there was "no specific reason", and that he would "let you know when everything is confirmed."