TNPL 2018: Kovai Kings, Karaikudi Kaalai lock horns

Both teams will be playing their first match of the season. Last year, both teams made it to the Playoffs. Lyca Kovai Kings beat Karaikudi Kaalai in the Eliminator before losing to Chepauk Super Gillies in a rain-curtailed Qualifier 2. 

This year, Lyca Kovai Kings has a new captain in Abhinav Mukund, who is looking to stage a comeback into the Test team. Rohith Ravikumar, who blasted the fastest century in the competition, will add to the batting firepower. The bowling department includes the 27-year old pacer T Natarajan. The left-armer brings with him the experience of playing in the IPL and will pose a threat to iDream Karaikudi Kaalai batsmen. 

Lyca captain Abhinav Mukund was confident that his side would do well in the tournament. “Preparations have been good so far. We had our camp in Chennai. We practiced together and played a few practice matches as well. That has helped us a lot. The players understand their roles. The boys are shaping up well for the opening encounter,” he said. 

iDream Karaikudi Kaalai will miss the services of its appointed captain Dinesh Karthik, who is away in England with the Indian team, and will be led by experienced batsman Anirudha Srikkanth. Another batsman to look out for is M Shajahan, who hit 16 sixes in the last season. 

Yo Mahesh V will be spearheading the bowling attack for the Kaalai team. The experienced campaigner is also dependable with the bat. It also has seasoned campaigners R Rajkumar, Lakshman V and R Srinivasan in its ranks. 

Kaalai coach Subramaniam Badrinath expects a lot from his youngsters. “We have an exciting crop of young players coming through. There is Radhakrishnan who has played for India U-19. Also, leg-spinner Kishan Kumar and Maan Bafna have bowled well in the nets,” said Badrinath.