R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JUNE 20
Rotary Club of Chennai Serenity along with RC of Madras Industrial City and RC of Chennai Millennium on Sunday announced that the Fourth Edition of TAKE Rotary Serenity Cup 2023 for U-19 school cricketers will commence on June 23 at 9 am at Amir Mahal – Royapettah in Chennai.
“The tournament will commence on June 23rd, 2023, and will continue till the beginning of July 2023. All the matches will be played on turf and will take place at four venues simultaneously during the league phase. Sixteen school teams will participate in the tournament by invitation, including two outstation teams. The teams will be divided into four zones, with four teams in each zone. The topper of each group will qualify for the semifinals, which will be played over two days. The finals will be played over three days. The format of the tournament and the venues provide these youngsters the opportunity to play the longer version of the game on turf wickets. The matches will be officiated and recorded by qualified TNCA umpires and scorers,” said UR Radhakrishnan, Tournament Advisor.
- All the matches will be played on turf and will take place at four venues simultaneously during the league phase
- Sixteen school teams will participate in the tournament by invitation, including two outstation teams
- As I am the Chairman of Ranji Trophy selection, I am able to pick a lot of unheard talents from the school level which gives them a chance to expose and prove: UR Radhakrishnan, Tournament Advisor
Addressing reporters Mr Radhakrishnan, said, “This tournament is an ideal launchpad for the youngsters to get into the next stage of playing for exhibition and getting into the State match. As I am the Chairman of Ranji Trophy selection, I am able to pick a lot of unheard talents from the school level which gives them a chance to expose and prove.”
“We are planning to expand the tournament at the national level from next edition onwards by inviting more number of teams from other states”, he added.
R Venkatesh, Former TN & Indian Railways Player, said, “At school level they don’t get chance to play turf, mostly it is either T20 or 30 overs match. Here they get an opportunity to play in the turf wicket and for longer durations like 50 overs. It’s a great platform as they get good exposure, and if they perform well, they get a chance to enter U19 city or state.”
Mr Venkatesan said that this long form of tournament was lauded for the opportunity that it gives to school cricketers by none other than Kasi Viswanathan – CEO of Chennai Super Kings, the organizers said.
Replying to a query, he said, ”For the first time, two teams from outside Chennai are participating. The organisers would take steps to include many government school teams, if not possible, we would try to form a team comprising different government school students.”
The earlier editions of the tournament have produced some exceptional cricketers like Sai Sudharshan, who is currently playing in the Indian Premier League for Gujarat Titans, Vimal Kumar, who represented Tamil Nadu U-19 State Cricket team, Manav Parak, who was a part of the India Under 19 team that won the world cup, Mohamed Ali, who played for the Tamil Nadu U-19 State Cricket team and many who went on to play first division cricket like Shubang Mishra, Anirudh Sheshadri, Rahul Ayyappan, etc.,
The tournament will also provide a wider exposure to the kids as we will organize former Indian and Tamil Nadu stars to participate and give away the Man of the Match awards.
“Audi Chetty Endowment Award” is part of the Edu-Scholarship Program under Rotary Club of Chennai Serenity aimed at sponsoring continued education. This award is instituted in the name of Audi Chetty, cricket coach, who has provided yeoman services to the game of cricket in Tamil Nadu and is presented to a deserving candidate chosen on the basis of performance in the Take Rotary Serenity Cup 2023.
The Take Rotary Serenity Cup 2023 will be awarding individual players Man of the Match for their exceptional performance after each game throughout the tournament. These awards are designed to recognize and appreciate the talent and hard work put in by the cricketers participating in the tournament.
The following are the individual awards that will be given at the end of the tournament. They are Man of the Tournament, Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Best Fielder, Wicket Keeper and Best All-Rounder
Venues
Amir Mahal – Royapettah Pebbles – Kelambakkam
Wahe Guru- Vandalur VB Nest – Kelambakkam
India Pistons- Tharamani Guru Nanak College – Velachery
Lady Andhal- Tambaram
List of School Teams Participating
St.Bedes, Nellai Nadar, Sri Mutha, Don Bosco, PS Senior, PSBB Millenium, Omega NIOS, Ebenazer, Ranachandra Public School, Jeppiar School, GHSS Pudur, Vidya Mandir, PSBB, KK Nagar, Omega CBSE, Jayendra Saraswathy (Coimbatore), Grace Matriculation (Madurai).
