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The afternoon sun, usually a welcome guest in Natham, beat down with uncharacteristic intensity on Sunday.
Yet, as early as 4:30 p.m., two hours before the first ball was even bowled, over 4,000 fervent fans had already converged on the NPR College Ground.
Their collective anticipation wasn’t for just any game—it was for the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), and their side Dindigul Dragons (DD) was making its second consecutive appearance in the final.
The excitement was understandable. Just days prior, the same fans had witnessed a spectacle, a cricketing heist in the second qualifier.
The Dragons, facing the season’s most dominant side, Chepauk Super Gillies, had snatched an improbable victory. The roar that had accompanied middle-order batter Vimal Khumar’s astonishing 34 runs off a single over, propelling his team to a four-wicket win, still echoed.
Buoyed by that incredible morale boost, Dindigul was primed to clash with the iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, a team making its maiden appearance in a TNPL final.
At around 6:30 p.m., a deafening roar erupted from the stands as Dindigul’s captain, Ravichandran Ashwin, won the toss and elected to field. A strategic move, surely, as chasing had been Dindigul’s forte all season, with only one loss coming when batting second.
However, that initial wave of confidence began to recede with the very first delivery. Tiruppur opener VP Amith Sathvik wasted no time, smashing a full ball from Bhuvaneshwar through the cover for a boundary, a harbinger of the onslaught to come.
What unfolded next was a masterclass in aggressive opening partnerships. Tiruppur’s Amith and Tushar Raheja, a duo renowned for taking the bowlers to the cleaners, proved to be an insoluble puzzle for the Dragons.
Their contrasting styles—the left-right combination—constantly disrupted Dindigul’s bowling rhythm.
In a surprising turn, the final saw a shift in their usual dynamics. Amith, often the anchor, unleashed a barrage of audacious strokes, while Tushar, the season’s top-scorer with a staggering strike rate of 185.55, momentarily took a backseat, seemingly enjoying the spectacle from the non-striker’s end.
Amith’s strategy was simple: he played the ball, not the bowler.
| Photo Credit:
Karthikeyan G/The Hindu
Amith’s strategy was simple: he played the ball, not the bowler.
| Photo Credit:
Karthikeyan G/The Hindu
Just to put things in perspective—when Amith reached his half century in 25 balls, Tushar had faced just 12 balls, scoring 18.
Meanwhile, Amith’s strategy was simple: he played the ball, not the bowler. The stature of the bowler mattered little; whether it was the wily Ashwin or the mysterious Varun Chakaravarthy, if Amith spotted an opportunity, he seized it with ruthless efficiency.
This became glaringly evident in Varun’s second over. Tushar initiated the damage with a six off a sweep, then wisely rotated the strike. Amith then took center stage. He forced Varun to bowl short by stepping out of the crease constantly. And when Varun went short, he nonchalantly cut for fours.
This calculated carnage propelled Tiruppur to 69 for no loss at the end of six overs, a new record for the highest PowerPlay total in TNPL history.
As Amith continued his assault, Tushar, too, found his rhythm, executing his footwork with flawless precision.
Their synergy on the pitch wasn’t just about raw talent; it was born from an almost telepathic understanding. As Tushar later revealed, “I’ve enjoyed playing with Amith. We rarely speak during games because of our in-depth understanding of the sport. The only conversation we have while batting is to decide which bowler to take on.”
He continued, “For instance, if it’s a leg-spinner, I will take the initiative. On the other hand, if it’s an off-spinner, Amith will take charge. It all boils down to reacting on the spot.”
Tushar’s shot of the day was a breathtaking, Suresh Raina-esque inside-out loft off U. Sasidharan, which sailed over the rope.
The duo, arguably the best opening pair of the season, went on to forge a magnificent 121-run opening stand before Amith’s fiery 64 off just 34 balls finally came to an end.
Tushar followed soon after, contributing 23 more runs to the ever-growing total. Quickfire 20s from the middle order ensured Tiruppur breached the 200-run mark in the 19th over, ultimately posting a formidable 220 at the close of 20 overs—the highest-ever total in a TNPL final.
iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans lifted its maiden TNPL trophy in the most emphatic way.
| Photo Credit:
Karthikeyan G/The Hindu
iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans lifted its maiden TNPL trophy in the most emphatic way.
| Photo Credit:
Karthikeyan G/The Hindu
By the close of the first innings, an undeniable truth settled over the NPR College Ground: Tiruppur had all but clinched its maiden title. With a daunting total set, R. Sai Kishore’s men had gained the psychological advantage over their opponents.
And they wrapped things up in style as they beat Dindigul by a whopping 118 runs.
Before the season began, with only two well-known figures in Sai Kishore and T. Natarajan, Tiruppur was rarely considered a serious title contender. Yet, through a balanced squad, unwavering contributions from almost every player, and a collective belief, their journey culminated in a fairytale ending.
They lifted their maiden TNPL trophy in the most emphatic way, a testament to their resilience and teamwork, and a performance that will be etched in the annals of TNPL history.
