The experienced wicketkeeper batsman has been appointed leader of the state's 20-man squad.
The selectors have appointed all-rounder Vijay Shankar as Karthik's deputy for the premier domestic T20 competition.
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Karthik will hold the responsibility of the squad that has a nice mix of youth and experience in it.
Out-of-favour with the Indian team, the 35-year-old will be under the pressure to deliver as captain, especially in the absence of first-choice picks Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar and T Natarajan, who are on national duty in Australia.
S Vasudevan, the former Tamil Nadu skipper and also the head of the state's senior selection committee, has announced a 20-man squad considering the requirements amid COVID-19 pandemic.
On the bowling front, while missing Ashwin, Sundar and Natarajan, the side will certainly feel boosted by the presence of pacers Aswin Crist and Sandeep Warrier. Crist has returned after a gap of three years because of injuries, while Warrier, among the most impressive pacemen around in domestic cricket, has shifted base from Kerala.
Spinners M Ashwin, R Sai Kishore and M Siddharth are also part of the squad as last season's runners-up look to go one step forward this time.
Veteran batsman Murali Vijay had just few days ago opted out due to personal reasons, while medium-pacer K Vignesh gave a positive Coronavirus test. Vignesh has been replaced in the squad by all-rounder R S Jaganath Sinivas.
"It is a very balanced team and has a mix of experience and youth," chief selector Vasudevan told PTI.
"The players are well prepared and I expect the team to do well in the Mushtaq Ali tournament. I am confident that they (team) will perform well," he added.
Tamil Nadu, placed in the Elite Group B of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20, will have a team camp starting Thursday (December 24) and will also be playing practise games. Karthik & co are expected to leave for Kolkata on January 2.
Squad: Dinesh Karthik (captain), Vijay Shankar (vice-captain), B Aparajith, B Indrajith, M Shahrukh Khan, C Hari Nishaanth, K B Arun Karthik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, N Jagadeesan, Aswin Crist, M Mohammed, G Periyasamy, Sandeep Warrier, J Kousik, R Sonu Yadav, M Ashwin, R Sai Kishore, M Siddharth, L Suryapprakash, R S Jaganath Sinivas.
(Inputs from PTI)