CSG hopes to end TUTI jinx in TNPL

Chepauk Super Gillies will hope to be fifth time lucky against Albert Tuti Patriots when the teams meet in the grand finale of the second season of the Tamil Nadu Premier League at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. 

Defending champions Albert Tuti Patriots, which is still unbeaten in this season of the TNPL, has gotten better during the course of the tournament. Washington Sundar has been a revelation for the team. He has excelled in all departments and has been breaking records in every game. To be able to stay in the limelight despite having international players like Dinesh Karthik and Abhinav Mukund will only boost the youngster’s confidence. He will be hoping to repeat the performance and help Tuti defend its title along with consistent performers Kaushik Gandhi, SP Nathan, Akash Sumra, Athisayaraj Davidson and Ganesh Moorthi. 

Meanwhile, Chepauk has got all their boxes ticked too, but the box that says a win against Tuti remains is to be ticked. What better occasion than the big final to erase all the past records. It is vital that Chepauk puts up a good opening stand in order to post a total on the board or to chase down a huge score. Either KH Gopinath or Thalaivan Sargunam needs to play well and others would need to bat around them. Antony Dhas’s batting form lately has been impressive and S Karthik lends depth to Chepauk’s batting. Saravanan, U Sasidev and captain R Sathish can all bat like champions. 

Chepauk and Tuti have met four times previously and Tuti has got the better of Chepauk on all occasions. including last year’s final and this year’s Qualifier 1. 

Washington Sundar (445) 

M Kaushik Gandhi (273) 

SP Nathan (133) 

Thalaivan Sargunam (213) 

KH Gopinath (201) 

S Karthik (180) 

Washington Sundar (14) 

Athisayaraj Davidson (13) 

Aushik Srinivas (8) 

Sai Kishore (15) 

R Alexander (9) 

Yo Mahesh (8)