Though they were defending champions, Rajasthan couldn't have started the season any worse. Not that it mattered, since the end was perfect, once again

Dinesh Karthik, the lone centurion for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy final, has blamed the Chepauk pitch for spoiling his team's chances of winning the title

The former Australia allrounder reminisces about growing up, playing alongside Lindwall, batting in the tied Test, and being a Musketeer

Rajasthan became only the fifth team to win the Ranji Trophy in successive seasons, as they beat Tamil Nadu on the first-innings lead in Chennai

Fastidious in his ways, yet instinctive on the pitch; 37 years old but still hard working, Hrishikesh Kanitkar's biggest asset is his ability to instill calm, and that is what has brought his team consecutive Ranji titles

Defending champions Rajasthan have virtually sealed the Ranji Trophy title, after bowling out a Tamil Nadu batting line-up that crumbled under the pressure of big runs

Rajasthan's plan was to run Tamil Nadu ragged and then unleash their fresh fast-bowlers on tired batsmen. It worked, as the home side's top order made a quick exit

With Rajasthan losing just two wickets in as many days, the Ranji final has all the makings of a high-scoring draw

Vineet Saxena remained unconquered for the second successive day as he notched his career-best score

In an age of sit-ins, Rajasthan were on an Occupy Chepauk drive as their opening pair of Vineet Saxena and Aakash Chopra frustrated Tamil Nadu to return undefeated at stumps

L Balaji, their captain, considers this is the best Tamil Nadu team he's been part of and its progress to the final has been a truly collective effort

Robin Bist's life is already littered with instances where he has received good advice that has shaped his career. That has helped earn his position as Rajasthan's batting giant this season

ESPNcricinfo previews the Ranji Trophy final for the 2011-12 season, between Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan to be played in Chennai

The Ranji Trophy final, starting Thursday, will be played on the same surface on which Tamil Nadu played two matches last month, which could make the track a little weary

This year the Royal Challengers have first rights to his services, but it is up to Gayle whether to accept their offer or make himself available for the February 4 auction

Sulakshan Kulkarni, Mumbai's coach, has singled out the failure of his senior batsmen and their inability to adapt to the situation in the knockouts as the main reason behind the team not reaching the Ranji final

Tamil Nadu entered the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in eight years after gaining a massive first-innings lead against Mumbai, setting up a summit clash with defending champions Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu have virtually booked their ticket for the final against defending champions Rajasthan, after consigning Mumbai to a wretched first innings with the bat at the Wankhede Stadium

Aggressive and accurate bowling helped Tamil Nadu flatten Mumbai on the second day at the Wankhede Stadium after the visitors' lower order had taken their total to 359

Ramaswamy Prasanna's painfully constructed unbroken 111-run stand for the seventh wicket with Yo Mahesh helped Tamil Nadu recover from the depths at 139 for 6 to a modest 250 for 6 at stumps