The league phase of TNPL 2023 is almost over, with Lyca Kovai Kings, Dindigul Dragons and Nellai Royal Kings having already qualified for the playoffs. Chepauk Super Gillies, Madurai Panthers, Tiruppur Tamizhans and Salem Spartans are all in contention for the only other spot that is up for grabs right now. Here are some of the major highlights from the week gone by.
Shahrukh puts Kovai in the first qualifier
Fastest fifty in TNPL 2023: check. Wickets with the ball: check. Plucking a catch out of thin air with one hand: check. M Shahrukh Khan contributed handsomely in all three departments to help Lyca Kovai Kings thump Madurai Panthers by 44 runs in Tirunelveli on Sunday and seal their spot in the first qualifier.
With B Sai Sudharsan leaving Kovai and linking up with the South Zone side for the Duleep Trophy, captain Shahrukh promoted himself to No.5 and flayed a 20-ball half-century. It included a sequence of 4,4,4,6 against legspinner M Ashwin. Shahrukh isn't usually comfortable starting against wristspin, but on Sunday he started in fifth gear and stayed there.
Shahrukh is also the joint-highest wicket-taker this season, with 13 strikes in seven innings at an average of 10.46 and economy rate of 6.80. Plus, his strike rate of 200 is also the best among batters who have faced at least 25 balls this TNPL.
No Ashwin? No problem for Dindigul
R Ashwin has left Dindigul Dragons for India's tour of the Caribbean, but under B Indrajith, Dindigul continue to challenge Kovai for the title. Since Ashwin's departure, Dindigul have notched up back-to-back victories, set up by back-to-back half-centuries from opening batter Shivam Singh.
All told, Shivam, who was part of the Punjab Kings side in IPL 2023, has struck fifties in his last three innings in the TNPL. Shivam is particularly prolific on the off side and can even play the reverse-sweep. Suboth Bhati, the former Delhi allrounder, has fronted up to bowl the tough overs in the powerplay and death. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has shared the load with Bhati, returning to his best after taking some tap from Sai Sudharsan last week. Left-arm fingerspinner Aushik Srinivas has belatedly joined the side as Ashwin's replacement.
Washington hits form before Duleep Trophy
Washington Sundar had managed just three wickets in seven matches in IPL 2023 before being sidelined from the tournament with a hamstring injury. Washington has had a fairly rusty start to TNPL 2023 and has picked up just one wicket in six games, but he has found some form with the bat ahead of joining South Zone for the Duleep Trophy.
Against Chepauk, Washington came in when Madurai were 46 for 5. He watched his team slump further to 50 for 6 and then 79 for 7, but he walloped an unbeaten 56 off 30 balls to drag Madurai to 141 for 7, which proved enough to keep them in the hunt for the playoffs. Fast bowler Ajay Krishna, who has had a stint with Chennai Super Kings as a net bowler, claimed 4 for 18 in three overs to back up Washington's punchy batting effort.
Chepauk's captain N Jagadeesan has also been released from the TNPL to turn out for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy as a potential replacement for KS Bharat, who has joined the India side for the Caribbean tour. Chepauk's Pradosh Ranjan Paul will also miss the final leg of the TNPL for the Duleep Trophy.
Emerging Player: Gurjapneet Singh
Gurjapneet Singh is a bit of a rare package in Tamil Nadu. He's a tall left-arm seamer, who can pound the deck and bowl in the high 130s [kph]. He also has a deceptive back-of-the-hand slower variation and the yorker in his repertoire. After impressing R Ashwin at Dindigul during his first TNPL season in 2021, Gurjapneet was picked as a net bowler by CSK, but a back injury then ruled him out of TNPL 2022.
Madurai snapped up Gurjapneet at the TNPL 2023 auction, and he has repaid their faith with 11 wickets in six games at an average of 11.72. His economy rate of 5.95 is the best among seamers who have bowled at least 15 overs this season.
In his most recent game on a placid pitch in Tirunelveli, where Kovai piled up 208 for 5, Gurjapneet came away with 2 for 30 in his four overs, limiting the damage at the death.