We need to bat better: Sunny Singh

CSG pacer Sunny Kumar Singh felt the wicket was on the slower side. “When we chased, the batsmen could have played a little more positively. Panthers bowled really well. Hopefully, we will come back strongly in the next match,” he said.

The pacer revealed it was the team’s decision to bowl first. “Ours is a strong bowling side and we kept them down to 153. Our batting didn’t take off,” he explained.

He added CSG’s fielding and bowling had been really good, but it needed to bat better. 

R Karthikeyan of Madurai Panthers said it was nice to win its first game in TNPL. “The previous editions are history, and this is a new team with new franchise owners. It’s a fresh tournament, a fresh start. Really excited to win in such comprehensive fashion. We look to take forward the confidence,” he said.

He admitted the total of 153 was below par. “The wicket wasn’t easy, not the sort a batsman can come out and start playing shots. Shijit Chandran and J Kousik helped us to a fighting total,” he said.

He felt the Rahil Shah-Varun Chakravathi spin combination bowled really well. “The momentum was with us from start to finish. In fact they bowled so well that I didn’t get to bowl despite playing as a left-arm spinner,” he explained.

Varun Chakravathi, who returned figures of 3-16, said his role in the bowling unit was to contain the opposition. “I try to bowl as many dot balls as possible and build pressure on the batsmen. The pitch was helpful and CSG had to score quickly, so it helped me in getting wickets,” he reasoned.

Varun credited his experience in bowling with the tennis balls for his success. “I used to play a lot of tennis ball cricket in my early days. There I picked up the skill of bowling off-cutters and leg-cutters with the same action. I was very successful with those deliveries and I continued,” he said.