Chennai

The TNPL, the commences in Chennai on July 22, will be the perfect dessert, after the state feasted on some memorable moments in the last one year.

The TNPL draft that was held a couple of weeks ago saw teams revamping their teams and filling in the gaps, that went amiss last year. All-rounder Shah Rukh Khan, who was also the first pick of the auctions, shifted from Ruby Trichy Warriors to Madurai Super Giant. S. Radhakrishnan (Chepauk Super Gillies), who is part of the India U-19 side and 15year old Nivethan Radhakrishnan (Karaikudi Kalai) are the young guns to look forward to in season two. The likes R Karthikeyan, Trilok Nag, Shikhar Hukku, Deeban Lingesh, Mokit Hariharan, Prashid Akash among others, earned their maiden call-up to the TNPL. 

TNPL was not just about youngsters like Washington Sundar (Albert Tuti Patriots) and T Natarajan (Dindigul Dragons) making it to the Indian Premier League (IPL); it was also about veterans like L Balaji (Albert Tuti Patriots) and S Badrinath (Karaikudi Kalai) showcasing that they still have it in them. 

The biggest achievement of TNPL was that it helped cricket spread in the districts where every game was a sell-out, no matter how the weather was. Families, friends, kids were present to experience the feel of witnessing a live game in the stadium for the first time. The live telecast of matches on Star Sports and Star Vijay also meant that district cricketers knew what it is to play under lights with the cameras focussing on them. 

Season one saw everything — the consistency of N.Jagadeesan, the batting prowess of Baba Aparajith, the perfect yorkers of T Natarajan and many memorable performances. It was a complete season of cricket. There were high scoring games, low-scoring thrillers, super overs, hat-tricks, a century, five- wicket hauls — you name it, you saw it. And the second season, just promises more.

TNPL schedule

• July 22 Albert Tuti Patriots vs Dindigul Dragons, Chennai 
• July 23 Lyca Kovai Kings vs Karaikudi Kaalai, Tirunelveli 
• July 24 Chepauk Super Gillies vs Tiruvallur VB Veerans, Tirunelveli 
• July 25 Madurai Super Giant vs Dindigul Dragons, Dindigul 
• July 26 Ruby Trichy Warriors vs Albert Tuti Patriots, Dindigul 
• July 27 Madurai Super Giant vs Karaikudi Kaalai, Tirunelveli 
• July 28 Dindigul Dragons vs Tiruvallur VB Veerans, Tirunelveli 
• July 29 Chepauk Super Gillies vs Lyca Kovai Kings, Chennai 
• July 30 Karaikudi Kaalai vs Albert Tuti Patriots, Tirunelveli 
• July 30 Tiruvallur VB Veerans vs Ruby Trichy Warriors, Tirunelveli 
• July 31 Lyca Kovai Kings vs Dindigul Dragons, Dindigul 
• Aug 1 Chepauk Super Gillies vs Albert Tuti Patriots, Tirunelveli 
• Aug 2 Karaikudi Kaalai vs Tiruvallur VB Veerans, Dindigul 
• Aug 2 Ruby Trichy Warriors vs Madurai Super Giant, Dindigul 
• Aug 3 Albert Tuti Patriots vs Lyca Kovai Kings, Tirunelveli 
• Aug 4 Karaikudi Kaalai vs Chepauk Super Gillies, Chennai 
• Aug 5 Dindigul Dragons vs Ruby Trichy Warriors, Tirunelveli 
• Aug 5 Tiruvallur VB Veerans vs Albert Tuti Patriots, Tirunelveli 
• Aug 6 Madurai Super Giant vs Chepauk Super Gillies, Chennai 
• Aug 7 Dindigul Dragons vs Karaikudi Kaalai, Tirunelveli 
• Aug 8 Madurai Super Giant vs Tiruvallur VB Veerans, Tirunelveli 
• Aug 9 Chepauk Super Gillies vs Ruby Trichy Warriors, Dindigul 
• Aug 10 Lyca Kovai Kings vs Madurai Super Giant, Dindigul 
• Aug 11 Karaikudi Kaalai Ruby vs Trichy Warriors, Dindigul 
• Aug 12 Tiruvallur VB Veerans vs Lyca Kovai Kings, Chennai 
• Aug 13 Albert Tuti Patriots vs Madurai Super Giant, Dindigul 
• Aug 13 Dindigul Dragons vs Chepauk Super Gillies, Dindigul 
• Aug 14 Ruby Trichy Warriors vs Lyca Kovai Kings, Chennai 
• Aug 15 QUALIFIER - 1, Chennai 
• Aug 16 ELIMINATOR, Dindigul 
• Aug 18 QUALIFIER - 2, Tirunelveli 
• Aug 20 FINAL Chennai

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