Cricket

As the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) approaches its climax, the playoff picture is becoming clearer. Defending champion Lyca Kovai Kings and three-time winner Chepauk Super Gillies have already secured their spots, while SKM Salem Spartans has been eliminated.The remaining two playoff berths are up for grabs, with Trichy Grand Cholas and iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans facing off in a virtual knockout clash on Saturday. The winner will join Kovai Kings and Super Gillies in the semifinals.Dindigul Dragons, currently in fifth place, has a strong chance to qualify as it has two matches remaining and needs to win at least one. Nellai Royal Kings, in sixth place, must win its last match against Dindigul to keep its playoff hopes alive.Siechem Madurai Panthers, despite having only one win from five matches, still has an outside chance to qualify. It must win its last two matches by big margins to boost its net run rate and hope for favorable results from other teams.Last season, the NPR College Ground in Dindigul witnessed distinctive bounce and swing for pacers. The pitches retained moisture and had grass patches, resulting in low-scoring affairs. If the weather and pitch conditions remain similar this year, the playoff-aspiring teams will heavily rely on their bowlers.

Trichy Grand Cholas emerged victorious in the third leg of the Tamil Nadu Premier League, defeating Nellai Royal Kings by four wickets at the India Cements ground in Trichy. Chasing a target of 178, the Cholas relied on crucial contributions from Jaffer Jamal (39 runs) and Shyam Sundar (31 runs) to secure the win.Nellai Royal Kings, led by skipper K.B. Arun Karthik, posted a competitive 177 for nine after being put in to bat. Karthik played a pivotal role, scoring a regal 84 runs off 51 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and two sixes. He formed crucial partnerships with Nidhish Rajagopal (38 runs) and Rithik Easwaran (48 runs) to propel the team's total.However, the Trichy Grand Cholas bowlers, led by P. Saravanakumar, kept the Royal Kings in check. Saravanakumar claimed an impressive four wickets for 34 runs, including the prized scalp of Karthik in the 19th over. Athisayaraj Davidson also chipped in with two wickets for 37 runs.In the chase, the Cholas got off to a shaky start, losing opener R.S. Mokit Hariharan in the second over and G. Ajitesh in the third. However, Jamal and Sundar steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Jamal's aggressive 27-ball knock included three sixes, while Sundar's 25-ball innings featured three boundaries.Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, the Cholas kept their composure and chased down the target with 19.3 overs to spare. R. Rajkumar contributed a valuable 31 runs, while Antony Dhas and Saravanakumar played cameos to guide the team to victory.The win propelled the Trichy Grand Cholas to second place in the points table, while the Nellai Royal Kings remained in the bottom half of the standings.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the renowned Indian spinner, has recently showcased his exceptional batting skills in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). During a match between Dindigul Dragons and Chepauk Super Gillies, Ashwin opened the batting and smashed an unbeaten 45 off just 20 deliveries. His explosive knock included 3 fours and 4 sixes, resulting in a remarkable strike rate of 225.Despite the Dindigul Dragons' eventual defeat in a rain-curtailed match, Ashwin's batting prowess left both fans and experts in awe. The video of his innings went viral on social media, highlighting his versatility as a cricketer.Ashwin's batting exploits have not gone unnoticed. In a recent interview, he revealed that former Indian captain MS Dhoni played a pivotal role in his development as a bowler. Ashwin admitted that Dhoni initially did not recognize him, but under his leadership, he began to flourish as a powerplay bowler for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).Ashwin recalled a specific incident in 2010 when Dhoni was injured and Suresh Raina led the team. He struggled to perform during that period, but upon Dhoni's return, he was given a renewed opportunity. Dhoni recognized Ashwin's potential and used him effectively in the batting Powerplay, both for CSK and the Indian team.Ashwin expressed his admiration for Dhoni's unwavering belief in his abilities. He stated that Dhoni's simple and clear instructions helped him develop as a bowler. Ashwin's success as a spinner is a testament to Dhoni's astute leadership and his ability to identify and nurture talent.

The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) kicked off its eighth season with a thrilling encounter at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground. Nellai Royal Kings emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish, defeating SKM Salem Spartans by three wickets.Chasing a modest target of 142, Nellai Royal Kings displayed an aggressive approach. G. Ajitesh (45) played a crucial role, hitting six fours and a six. However, the Spartans' Yazh Arun Mozhi (3/17) dismissed Ajitesh and Nidhish Rajagopal, putting the Royal Kings under pressure.With wickets falling at one end, Impact Player L. Suryapprakash (43*) stepped up to the plate. His sensible batting guided the Nellai side to victory with seven balls to spare.Earlier, the Spartans struggled against the impressive bowling of Sonu Yadav (5/30). Yadav's five-wicket haul restricted the Spartans to a mere 141 runs. B. Emmanuel Cherian and R. Silambarasan also contributed with two wickets each.

In a thrilling encounter at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground, Trichy Grand Cholas emerged victorious over Siechem Madurai Panthers in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). The match was a testament to the exceptional batting prowess of SalemWaseem Ahmed and Sanjay Yadav, who played pivotal roles in securing the win for their team.Ahmed, a 23-year-old opener, showcased his talent with an unbeaten 90 runs off 55 balls. His innings was characterized by seven boundaries and five towering sixes. Yadav, on the other hand, played a crucial all-round role, scoring an unbeaten 60 runs off 33 balls and claiming three wickets for 28 runs.The Cholas' batting innings got off to a slow start, with the team scoring only 69 runs in the first 10 overs. However, Ahmed and Yadav turned the tide with their explosive partnership, adding an unbeaten 126 runs for the third wicket. Their aggressive approach left the Panthers' bowlers helpless as they smashed the ball to all corners of the ground.In response, the Panthers' chase was led by skipper Hari Nishaanth, who scored a valiant 39 runs off 20 balls. However, the team's hopes were dashed when Nishaanth suffered a cramp and was forced to retire. The Panthers' batting lineup struggled to keep up with the required run rate, and they eventually fell short by 67 runs.Sanjay Yadav's all-round performance was particularly impressive. His three wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Nishaanth, played a significant role in restricting the Panthers' chase. Yadav's ability to contribute both with the bat and ball made him a key player for the Cholas.The victory marked a significant turnaround for the Trichy Grand Cholas, who had not won a match since July 21, 2022. The team's performance was a testament to the determination and skill of their players, particularly Ahmed and Yadav.

In a thrilling encounter at the Salem Cricket Foundation ground, Nellai Royal Kings emerged victorious over Chepauk Super Gillies in the eighth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). With just three wickets and a ball to spare, Nellai Royal Kings chased down a challenging target of 167, thanks to a valiant effort from left-hander Nidhish Rajagopal.Rajagopal's unbeaten 53 off 35 deliveries proved to be the match-winner. His innings included three fours and three sixes, with the final over proving to be a nail-biting affair. Aswin Crist, the Chepauk Super Gillies medium-pacer, bowled a series of slower balls, but Rajagopal dispatched them with ease, hitting a straight four, two sixes, and a four to seal the victory.Nellai Royal Kings' chase was set up by opener Mokit Hariharan's 52 off 38 balls, which included five fours and a six. G. Ajitesh also contributed with a quickfire 30 off 14 deliveries, including four fours and a six.Earlier, Chepauk Super Gillies had posted a competitive 166 for six, thanks to opener N. Jagadeesan's unbeaten 63 off 46 balls. Jagadeesan, known for his aggressive batting, played a more measured innings, hitting three fours and three sixes.In the second match of the day, Lyca Kovai Kings defeated iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans by a narrow margin of one run. M. Shahrukh Khan was the star for Kovai Kings, scoring a blistering 55 off 32 balls, including four fours and four sixes.Tushar Raheja's adhesive knock of 81 off 57 balls held Tiruppur Tamizhans' innings together, but his dismissal in the penultimate over proved costly. With six runs needed off four balls, Raheja holed out to long off, leaving Ajith Ram to face the final delivery. Ram edged the ball to third man for a four, but missed the last ball and set off for a single, only to be run out by the keeper.

Lyca Kovai Kings emerged victorious in the inaugural match of the eighth season of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), defeating Chepauk Super Gillies by 13 runs at the Salem Cricket Foundation (SCF) ground.B. Sachin, the Kovai Kings' top-scorer, played a crucial role in their victory, amassing 63 runs off 53 deliveries, including eight boundaries. His innings helped the Kings post a competitive total of 141 for seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs.Chasing a target of 142, the Super Gillies made a promising start, with skipper B. Aparajith and N. Jagadeesan putting on a 56-run partnership for the second wicket. However, the introduction of medium-pacer M. Mohammed proved to be a turning point. Mohammed dismissed Jagadeesan and Aparajith in quick succession, leaving the Super Gillies reeling at 72 for three.Despite a valiant effort from Pradosh Ranjan Paul, who scored 40 runs off 32 deliveries, the Super Gillies were unable to maintain the required run rate. Mohammed's impressive bowling in the final over, where he successfully defended 18 runs, sealed the victory for the Kovai Kings.Earlier, after Aparajith opted to bowl first, medium-pacer Abhishek Tanwar made an immediate impact for the Super Gillies, dismissing J. Suresh Kumar and S. Sujay in his first two overs. Pradosh's throw from midwicket caught Shahrukh Khan short at the non-striker's end, leaving the Kovai Kings struggling at 34 for three after the PowerPlay.However, Sachin and U. Mukilesh (31 runs off 25 deliveries) steadied the Kovai Kings' innings with a 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Sachin's aggressive batting, including a six over deep midwicket, kept the scoreboard ticking.In the end, the Kovai Kings' total proved to be just enough to secure the victory, as the Super Gillies fell short by 13 runs.