M. Venkataramana

Name Hindi: एम. वेंकटरमण / Gender Man

M. Venkataramana – An Outstanding Cricket Icon

Despite being a less glamorous sport, cricket boasts numerous exceptional talents and has produced many celebrated stars who have significantly shaped its history. One amongst these treasured names is Murali Venkataramana, an extraordinary talent known for his undeniable skills and contributions to the world of cricket.

Born on February 25th, 1966, in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, M. Venkataramana was fundamentally drawn towards cricket from an early age. In fact, he began playing with local clubs in his teenage years and quickly graduated to larger platforms due to his evident prowess.

Captivating consistencies in his performances culminated in him making his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu during the 1987-88 season. Primarily recognized as an off-spinner, Venkataramana possessed a deft ability to bowl spin that scared away even the most formidable batting lineups. His uncanny knack for turning games around made him a significant asset within every team he played.

• In his domestic career spanning over ten years from 1988 through till 1999, he used his killer techniques brilliantly to bag over 530 wickets across all formats.
• The crowning moment of aspiration occurred when he got selected to represent India against New Zealand in ODIs (One Day Internationals) during their tour of 1988/89.
• Honoured but not overwhelmed by this opportunity, Venkataramana lived up to expectation remarkably well by taking two key wickets for just 34 runs in a one-off match thereby paving his entry into test cricket.
• Following this stellar performance, he debuted in international Test cricket later that year against the West Indies, although regrettably it was his solitary Test appearance owing to an unfortunate injury.

Beyond being a player, Venkataramana also contributed immensely to training upcoming talents. He became a successful coach after retiring from active cricket…

• He joined the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) academy as a bowling coach, where he played a crucial role in honing young budding talents of India.
• In the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is known for its competitive nature and wide global audience, Murali served as an assistant coach at Mumbai Indians before taking over the reins as Head Coach at Kilitch Drugs Cricket Academy.

M. Venkataramana’s immeasurable passion for the sport did not stop there; upon selection by the IPL Governing Council, he emerged as a notable talent scout on their panel. Today he continues giving back to the game, using his experience to mold potential stars while remaining one of the revered names in Indian cricket history.
—-

Poll