Teams will be eager to recalibrate ahead of the Salem leg
The big talking point heading into the Salem leg of the ninth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is the form of defending champion Dindigul Dragons and last season's runner-up Lyca Kovai Kings.
The two have endured a disappointing start to the season, with no wins to their names, and find themselves at the bottom of the standings. The action-packed first leg has surprisingly been far from a run-fest, with only one team (Chepauk Super Gillies 212 for seven vs Nellai Royal Kings) breaching the 200-run mark so far.
Dindigul Dragons captain and former India international R. Ashwin added to the drama with his dissent over an umpiring decision during his team's clash against the Tiruppur Tamizhans.
Among the other highlights was pacer R. Sonu Yadav's hat-trick for the Nellai Royal Kings against the Trichy Grand Cholas.
With all eight teams having played two matches each, four-time champion Chepauk Super Gillies and the in-form SKM Salem Spartans have emerged as the early front-runners, currently occupying the top two spots on the points table.
The second leg gets underway here on Friday, and the teams will be eager to recalibrate their strategies and adapt to the new conditions. Another thrilling week beckons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
New fitness plan for Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy hopefuls
CHENNAI: In a bid to ensure the Tamil Nadu men's probables for the Ranji Trophy are in the best shape at the start of the domestic season, the Robin Singh-led TNCA Academy and new head coach M Senthilnathan have devised a programme with focus on fitness and workload. As part of the programme, the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) franchises have been requested to let certain players follow the prescribed routine on their 'rest' days. 'After the players join the Ranji Trophy camp around the start of September, I want to use the time to hone their skills, formulate strategies and prepare for the matches ahead. We cannot allot a lot of time just for fitness,' Senthilnathan told TOI. 'We will try to follow the same (programme) at the beginning of the next TNCA first division campaign and during the Buchi Babu tournament (invitational red-ball event hosted by the TNCA). We want to set a base and gradually improve the players' fitness so that they report fully fit before the domestic season,' Senthilnathan added. Senthilnathan, who replaced L Balaji at the helm, said that the TNPL franchises have considered the bigger picture – TN performing well in domestic tournaments – and have been 'cooperative'. The first leg of the TNPL concluded on Wednesday in Coimbatore, while the second phase will begin on Friday in Salem. 'The TNCA had a summer camp for about 40 boys. The selectors then prepared a list of other boys, including the regulars. The plan is to monitor them during the TNPL. We have been in touch with the teams, players and coaches,' Senthilnathan said. 'On an average, the players have three days in between the TNPL matches, and we want them to make the best use of those. We have asked the players to follow the routine on certain days. While the TNCA Academy trainers have created a fitness routine, I have prepared a workload plan for batters and bowlers.' For Senthilnathan, 'volume' is key. 'A batter may face a maximum of 300 balls during the course of the TNPL. We do not know the number of balls he plays in training. Similarly, the fast bowlers will not have enough overs under their belt. When they are asked to suddenly bowl about 15 overs in a day (in a Ranji match), they struggle and get injured sometimes. We do not want such things to happen,' Senthilnathan explained. No Ranji group games at Chepauk The MA Chidambaram Stadium will not host any Ranji group games due to outfield renovation. 'Until the end of the T20 World Cup next year, there will be no other matches at Chepauk. The renovation work will get over in January and the TNCA will then have to hand over the venue to the ICC,' said a TNCA source. It means that the MAC stadium will miss out on Ranji group matches for the second season in a row. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Teams will be eager to recalibrate ahead of the Salem leg
The big talking point heading into the Salem leg of the ninth edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is the form of defending champion Dindigul Dragons and last season's runner-up Lyca Kovai Kings. The two have endured a disappointing start to the season, with no wins to their names, and find themselves at the bottom of the standings. The action-packed first leg has surprisingly been far from a run-fest, with only one team (Chepauk Super Gillies 212 for seven vs Nellai Royal Kings) breaching the 200-run mark so far. Dindigul Dragons captain and former India international R. Ashwin added to the drama with his dissent over an umpiring decision during his team's clash against the Tiruppur Tamizhans. Among the other highlights was pacer R. Sonu Yadav's hat-trick for the Nellai Royal Kings against the Trichy Grand Cholas. With all eight teams having played two matches each, four-time champion Chepauk Super Gillies and the in-form SKM Salem Spartans have emerged as the early front-runners, currently occupying the top two spots on the points table. The second leg gets underway here on Friday, and the teams will be eager to recalibrate their strategies and adapt to the new conditions. Another thrilling week beckons.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Ram Arvindh and Chaturved sizzle as Panthers take down Kovai Kings
R. Ram Arvindh's well-crafted 64 (48b, 4x4, 3x6) and a quickfire cameo from skipper N. S. Chaturved (46 n.o., 23b, 4x4, 3x6) helped Siechem Madurai Panthers beat Lyca Kovai Kings by seven wickets in the final league game of the Coimbatore leg of the TNPL-9 at the Sri Ramakrishna College here on Wednesday. Pursuing 170, openers Ram and B. Anirudh Sita Ram (37) showed that batters could score at a brisk pace while playing conventional shots and gave their side a solid start. The duo displayed positive intent while minimising risk during their 88-run alliance. Ram showed great range, sweeping and late-cutting M. Shahrukh Khan for a six and four. He then lofted N. Kabilan and walked down to flick the pacer through the leg-side majestically. Later, skipper Chaturved came out guns blazing, smashing Jhatavedh Subramanyan for two sixes and a four in the 13th over and got the job done. Earlier, for the second match in succession, the Kovai Kings' batters failed, and it was left to skipper Shahrukh to save his outfit from the blemish with an entertaining unbeaten 77 (44b, 8x4, 4x6) that took the team to 169 for five. Asked to bat, Kings started well, getting to 55 for one in the PowerPlay, but the Panthers' spinners pulled back, picking up wickets in regular intervals to reduce the home side to 107 for five. Shahrukh was at his flamboyant best, striking cleanly, but lacked support from his teammates. He gave the final flourish, smashing pacer S. Surya Anand for consecutive sixes in the 19th and finished the innings with a hat-trick of fours off Gurjapneet Singh. However, it was not enough for the Kings to avoid a second straight defeat in their backyard. The scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 169/5 in 20 overs (M. Shahrukh Khan 77 n.o.) lost to Siechem Madurai Panthers 171/3 in 17.5 overs (R. Ram Arvindh 64, B. Anirudh Sita Ram 37, N.S. Chaturved 46 n.o.). Toss: Panthers. Next match: At Salem (June 13): Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs SKM Salem Spartans (7.15 p.m.).
