Dindigul Dragons Crowned TNPL Champions, Ashwin Leads Triumph

Dindigul Dragons Crowned TNPL Champions, Ashwin Leads Triumph

Dindigul Dragons Triumph in TNPL Final, Led by Ashwin’s Heroics

In a thrilling climax to the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), Dindigul Dragons emerged victorious, claiming their maiden title with a six-wicket triumph over defending champions Lyca Kovai Kings. The final, held in Chennai on Sunday, witnessed a captivating display of skill and determination.

Dindigul Dragons, chasing a modest target of 130 runs, relied on the steady hand of their captain, Ravichandran Ashwin. The all-rounder played a pivotal role, scoring a crucial 52 runs off 46 deliveries, including a four and three towering sixes. His partnership with Baba Indrajith, who contributed 32 runs off 35 balls, proved decisive in the team’s victory.

The Dragons’ middle-order batsmen, guided by the calm and composed Ashwin, successfully chased down the target with 10 balls remaining. They scored 46 runs for the loss of two wickets during the powerplay, setting the tone for their eventual triumph.

The Lyca bowlers, despite their best efforts, could only manage to pick up one wicket each during the innings. Gowtham Thamarai Kannan, Manimaran Siddharth, Valliappan Yudheeswaran, and Shahrukh each claimed a scalp, but it was not enough to prevent Dindigul’s march to victory.

Earlier, Dindigul’s bowlers had kept the Lyca batters in check, taking wickets at regular intervals. Sandeep Warrier made the first breakthrough, dismissing Suresh Kumar in the third over. Varun Chakravarthy then struck twice in the sixth over, followed by P Vignesh dismissing Sai Sudharsan.

Atheeq Ur Rahman and Ram Arvindh attempted to stage a comeback for the defending champions, forming a partnership of 36 runs for the fifth wicket. However, their efforts were thwarted when Subodh Bhati dismissed Rahman. Vignesh then added to Lyca’s troubles by dismissing skipper Shahrukh Khan.

Struggling at 105/6, Arvindh couldn’t stay at the crease either, giving a catch to Sandeep Warrier. Cameos from the tail-enders pushed the score to 129/7, but it was not enough to challenge Dindigul’s dominance.

Ashwin finished with figures of 0/13 for Dindigul, while Vignesh (2/15) and Chakravarthy (2/26) were the standout performers.

R Ashwin Expands Batting Range, Urges Young Cricketers to Embrace Failures

R Ashwin Expands Batting Range, Urges Young Cricketers to Embrace Failures

At 37, R Ashwin is expanding his batting range in his first full Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) season. Known for his boundary-hitting prowess down the ground, Ashwin has been working on playing boundary shots square of the wicket, a strategy that has paid off.

In Qualifier 2 against Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans, Ashwin dismantled left-arm fingerspinners R Sai Kishore and S Ajith Ram with reverse-sweeps, scoring 28 off nine balls. Overall, he has amassed 200 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 166.66, with five innings coming at the top or No. 3 for Dindigul Dragons.

“Everything is work in progress,” Ashwin said. “I felt like I needed to widen my game square of the wicket because I know I can hit the ball down the ground. I wanted to explore other options to keep myself interested in the game.”

Dindigul’s rookie left-arm fingerspinner P Vignesh, who missed the Under-19 World Cup cut for India, has impressed with his accuracy and control. In Qualifier 2, he claimed 3 for 8 and the Player-of-the-Match award.

Ashwin urged the next generation of cricketers to embrace failures and improve their skills. “Missing the Under-19 cut is not the end of the world,” he said. “Failure and success are normal, and people become better only through failures. I hope they’re ready to expand their game and find answers to the questions that are going to be asked.”

Meanwhile, Shahrukh Khan of Lyca Kovai Kings has been working on a technical tweak to improve his game against spin. He has been using a trigger movement where he pushes his weight forward, which has helped him score off both the front and back foot.

Shahrukh’s overall strike rate against pace in the IPL is 161.11, but it falls to 112 against spin. However, in IPL 2024, he managed to lift his strike rate against spin to 168.75.

Despite losing to Dindigul in the league phase, Shahrukh is confident his team can put together their “best cricket” in the final. “We’re taking it as just another game,” he said. “We still haven’t played our best cricket this year, and we will try and do that.”

Dindigul Dragons Crush Tiruppur Tamizhans in TNPL Qualifier 2

Dindigul Dragons Crush Tiruppur Tamizhans in TNPL Qualifier 2

Dindigul Dragons emerged victorious in the Qualifier 2 of the Tamil Nadu Premier League, defeating iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans by a commanding nine wickets at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. The triumph propelled the Dragons into the final, where they will face the winner of Qualifier 1.

Left-arm spinner P. Vignesh played a pivotal role in the Dragons’ victory, claiming impressive figures of 4-0-8-3. His accurate bowling restricted the Tamizhans to a modest total of 108 runs in 19.4 overs. Varun Chakravarthy also contributed with two wickets, conceding only 17 runs in his four overs.

Skipper R. Ashwin’s blistering knock of 69 not out off just 30 deliveries proved to be the catalyst for the Dragons’ chase. Ashwin, known for his aggressive batting style, smashed 11 boundaries and three sixes, dismantling the Tiruppur bowlers with ease. Vimal Khumar provided valuable support with a 28-run contribution.

The Dragons reached the target in a mere 10.5 overs, with Ashwin and Khumar putting on an unbeaten 112-run partnership for the first wicket. Ashwin’s half-century came off just 23 deliveries, highlighting his exceptional batting prowess.

Earlier, Ashwin’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved to be a wise move. He dismissed in-form opener Tushar Raheja cheaply, setting the tone for the Tamizhans’ batting struggles. The Tiruppur batters were unable to build substantial partnerships, with only S. Ganesh and Maan K. Bafna managing a 42-run stand for the sixth wicket.

The Dragons’ fielding was equally impressive, with Ashwin taking a stunning catch at mid-on to dismiss Amit Sathvik. The team’s spirited effort and disciplined bowling ultimately led to the Tamizhans’ downfall.

Ashwin's Batting Brilliance Powers Dindigul Dragons to TNPL Victory

Ashwin’s Batting Brilliance Powers Dindigul Dragons to TNPL Victory

Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s renowned off-spin wizard, showcased his exceptional batting prowess in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024. Leading the Dindigul Dragons as captain, Ashwin played a pivotal role in his team’s victory over the Chepauk Super Gillies in the Eliminator.

Chasing a modest target of 159 in 20 overs, the Dragons lost an early wicket. However, Ashwin, batting at number three, displayed his versatility with a blistering knock. He started cautiously, but soon unleashed his power, smashing the fourth ball he faced for a towering six.

Ashwin’s innings was a symphony of power and precision. He struck four more sixes and four boundaries, amassing 57 runs off just 35 deliveries. His aggressive approach kept the Dragons in the hunt, and his dismissal in the 14th over did little to dampen their spirits.

Inspired by Ashwin’s heroics, the Dragons rallied to victory with one ball to spare and four wickets in hand. Ashwin’s match-winning performance earned him the Man of the Match award.

Ashwin’s batting exploits in the TNPL 2024 are a testament to his all-round abilities. Despite being primarily known for his bowling prowess, he has consistently demonstrated his batting prowess in various formats. In Test cricket, he boasts five centuries and 14 half-centuries, while in ODIs, he has scored a fifty.

The Dragons will now face IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans in Qualifier 2 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Ashwin’s leadership and batting prowess will be crucial as the Dragons aim to secure a berth in the final.

Shivam Singh's Century Powers Dindigul Dragons to TNPL Playoffs

Shivam Singh’s Century Powers Dindigul Dragons to TNPL Playoffs

Shivam Singh’s whirlwind century (106 not out off 57 balls) propelled Dindigul Dragons to a commanding 30-run victory over Siechem Madurai Panthers in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). The triumph secured Dragons’ berth in the playoffs, while Panthers’ hopes were dashed.

Singh’s innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, particularly against the spinners. Seven of his 10 sixes came off the tweakers. He began cautiously, but a miscued slog sweep off M. Ashwin in the ninth over seemed to ignite his aggression.

Undeterred, Singh launched the next delivery for a maximum over deep mid-wicket. From there, his innings exploded like a rocket. He hooked Ajay Krishnan for a six over deep fine-leg, followed by a gorgeous inside-out shot for another maximum over deep cover.

In the 15th over, Singh unleashed a barrage of three consecutive sixes off V.S. Karthick Manikandan, two over deep midwicket and one behind deep square-leg. His fifty came off just 29 balls, a testament to his blistering pace.

In the chase, only S. Lokeshwar threatened Dragons with a 37-ball 55 (3×4, 4×6). However, the Panthers’ batting lineup failed to keep up with the required run rate, falling short by 30 runs.

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