Yo Mahesh named Tamil Nadu senior men's cricket head coach for 2026/27
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu cricket gets a full coaching overhaul for 2026/27: former CSK pacer Yo Mahesh takes unified charge of the senior men's team across formats, while BCCI-NCA Level 3 coach Aarthi Sankaran leads the women's side. The TNCA has revamped its entire pipeline from U14 to senior level in a single sweep.
Key Takeaways
Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh , former CSK and India U19 fast bowler, named Tamil Nadu senior men's head coach for the 2026/27 domestic season.
Yo Mahesh replaces two outgoing coaches — M.
Senthilnathan (red-ball) and M.
Venkataramana (white-ball) — taking unified charge of both formats.
He brings experience of 50 first-class , 61 List A , and 46 T20 matches, plus an IPL stint with Delhi Daredevils .
Aarthi Sankaran , a BCCI-NCA Level 3 coach, appointed head coach of the Tamil Nadu senior women's team , assisted by former India pacer Niranjana Nagarajan .
K Hemamalini named chairperson of the women's senior selection committee; N Manjhulaa to head the junior women's selection panel.
Former India U19 and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fast bowler Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh has been appointed head coach of the Tamil Nadu senior men's cricket team for the 2026/27 domestic season, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) confirmed on 24 June. The decision was cleared by the association's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) following a formal screening of applications across coaching and selection roles.
Key Appointment Details
Yo Mahesh steps into a unified role, overseeing coaching responsibilities for both the multi-day (red-ball) and white-ball senior men's squads. He moves up after a successful tenure with the state's Under-19 setup, replacing M. Senthilnathan, who handled red-ball duties, and M. Venkataramana, who led white-ball coaching in the previous cycle.
A seasoned domestic campaigner, Yo Mahesh featured in 50 first-class matches, 61 List A games, and 46 T20 fixtures across his playing career. He also represented Delhi Daredevils — now the Delhi Capitals — in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Support Staff for the Men's Division
R Srinivasan has been named assistant coach for red-ball cricket, while J. Hariesh — currently serving as an assistant batting coach with IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad — will take charge as assistant coach for white-ball formats. The dual-format support structure signals TNCA's intent to professionalise its coaching pipeline ahead of a demanding domestic calendar.
In other appointments within the men's programme, V R S Guru Kedarnath has been handed the Under-23 head coaching role, V Maaruthi Raghav takes over the Under-19 boys' setup, S Dinesh will lead the Under-16 unit, and T R Madhavan heads the Under-14 coaching department.
Women's Cricket: New Leadership Across Age Groups
Aarthi Sankaran, a BCCI-NCA Level 3 certified coach and former Tamil Nadu cricketer who previously managed the state's U15 and U19 women's teams, has been elevated to head coach of the Tamil Nadu senior women's team. She will be assisted by former India fast bowler Niranjana Nagarajan, bringing international experience into the women's support staff.
V Bobby Gulecha will guide the Under-23 women's team, while S Ashok Anand and Nilofer Firdhouse take charge of the U19 and U15 women's setups respectively.
Selection Committee Overhaul
TNCA Secretary U Bhagwandas Rao confirmed that K Hemamalini has been appointed chairperson of the women's senior selection committee, with N Manjhulaa heading the junior women's selection committee to drive grassroots talent identification across the state. The sweeping appointments across age groups and both genders reflect a structured rebuild of Tamil Nadu cricket's administrative and technical framework ahead of the new season.
Point of View
But Tamil Nadu's senior men's programme has underperformed in recent Ranji Trophy cycles, and the pressure to convert a talent-rich state into a title contender will be immediate. On the women's side, pairing a certified Level 3 coach with a former India international as assistant is a credible combination, though sustained investment in the women's pipeline — not just appointments — will determine whether the structural intent translates into results.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yo Mahesh and why has he been appointed Tamil Nadu head coach?
Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh is a former India U19 and Chennai Super Kings fast bowler who played 50 first-class, 61 List A, and 46 T20 matches in domestic cricket. The TNCA's Cricket Advisory Committee appointed him head coach of the Tamil Nadu senior men's team for 2026/27 after a successful stint coaching the state's Under-19 squad.
Who does Yo Mahesh replace as Tamil Nadu cricket coach?
Yo Mahesh replaces two separate outgoing coaches — M. Senthilnathan, who handled red-ball duties, and M. Venkataramana, who led white-ball coaching. Yo Mahesh will oversee both formats in a unified role.
Who is the new head coach of the Tamil Nadu senior women's cricket team?
Aarthi Sankaran, a BCCI-NCA Level 3 certified coach and former Tamil Nadu cricketer, has been appointed head coach of the Tamil Nadu senior women's team. Former India fast bowler Niranjana Nagarajan will serve as her assistant coach.
What other coaching appointments did the TNCA make for 2026/27?
The TNCA appointed V R S Guru Kedarnath (Under-23 men), V Maaruthi Raghav (Under-19 boys), S Dinesh (Under-16), and T R Madhavan (Under-14) on the men's side. For women's cricket, V Bobby Gulecha takes the Under-23 role, S Ashok Anand leads U19, and Nilofer Firdhouse heads U15.
Who heads Tamil Nadu's women's selection committees for 2026/27?
K Hemamalini has been appointed chairperson of the women's senior selection committee, while N Manjhulaa will head the junior women's selection committee, according to TNCA Secretary U Bhagwandas Rao.
