Sai Sudharsan during the match (Instagram/tnpremierleague)
CHENNAI: Baba Indrajith’s unbeaten 96 guided Dindigul Dragons over the line against Lyca Kovai Kings in TNPL on Sunday’s first encounter at Tirunelveli.
Kovai Kings faced a challenging start after being asked to bat first, losing three crucial wickets during the powerplay phase. Sai Sudharsan, batting at number three instead of opening, then anchored the innings alongside Ram Arvindh, forming a 37-run stand.
By the 17th over, Kovai Kings found itself at 105/5, with Ram Arvindh departing for 25 runs off 26 balls. However, the defending champion staged a remarkable recovery in the final five overs. Shahrukh Khan and Atheeq Ur Rahman combined forces, adding 67 runs swiftly to bolster the innings.
Shahrukh Khan’s unbeaten 51 off just 25 deliveries was instrumental in steering Kovai Kings to a competitive 172. Meanwhile, Atheeq Ur Rahman provided crucial support with an unbeaten 29 off 12 balls. Varun Chakravarthy led the Dindigul bowling attack with two wickets, while Sandeep Warrier, VP Diran, and P Vignesh grabbed one each. Dindigul approached its chase with aggressive intent right from the outset. Despite losing Vimal Khumar early for 13 off 12 balls, Shivam Singh and Indrajith took charge, building a crucial partnership of 73 for the second wicket. Shivam Singh, who played an anchor innings in the partnership, departed after 33-ball 36 to Jhathavedh Subramanyan. The young spinner also dismissed Boopathi Vaishna Kumar in the same over, adding pressure on Dindigul.
In the penultimate over, Shahrukh Khan turned the tide by claiming back-to-back wickets, forcing Dindigul to toil hard for its victory. However, Indrajith proved too good for the defending champion as he ensured Dindigul crossed the finish line comfortably, guiding it to a convincing five-wicket win. Indrajith’s unbeaten 96 is his highest TNPL score and the highest individual score of TNPL 2024. Also, with this knock, Indrajith is the current orange cap holder of the season.
Brief scores: Lyca Kovai Kings 172/5 in 20 overs (M Shahrukh Khan 51*) lost to Dindigul Dragons 176/5 in 19.2 overs (B Indrajith 96*)