Dindigul Dragons have kick-started their preparation for the TNPL playing a warm-up game against Chennai Super Kings academy boys in Chennai. The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is one of the most exciting and sought-after T20 tournaments in India and is scheduled to begin on June 12 in Coimbatore.
The Dindigul Dragons are led by the prominent Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, based on his availability to the league. Ashwin was retained by the franchise for INR 10 lakh ahead of the TNPL auctions–and the Indian veteran was seen bidding for players on behalf of the Dindigul Dragons team at the inaugural edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) Auction.
With the TNPL scheduled in months, Dindigul Dragons gear up for the league by playing a practice match against the Chennai Super Kings academy boys in Chennai and these warm-up games will be vital for their side as they will look to end their title drought in Tamil Nadu Premier League.
Lot of learnings and smiles!??
Happy to have played a practice game against TNPL team @DindigulDragons ?#SuperKingsAcademy ?#TrainLikeASuperKing ? pic.twitter.com/F8LMhmLsSi
— Super Kings Academy (@SuperKingsAcad) April 28, 2023
Ashwin will most likely lead them this season as his experience and knowledge of the game are expected to be invaluable to the Dragons in his absence the responsibility might be given to Tamil Nadu Skipper Baba Indrajith, who has experience leading Tamil Nadu and TNPL teams.
Dindigul Dragons had a brilliant outing in auctions as they picked up IPL stars Varun Chakravarthy (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Shivam Singh ( Punjab Kings) to their team, who can produce some valuable performance for their side.
They have also picked up 2021 TNPL’s highest wicket-taker Sarvana Kumar and a hard-hitting all-rounder Subodh Kumar Bhati to their side along with promising youngsters Kishoor G, Vimal Khumar and R Mathivanan in their team.
Dindigul Dragons Squad For TNPL 2023
Squad: R Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Baba Indrajith, Subodh Kumar Bhati, Saravana Kumar P, Shivam Singh, Kishoor G, Hemanth Kumar G, Vimal Khumar R, Diran VP, Boopathi Vaishna Kumar, Mathivanan M, Tamil Dhileepan ME, Advaith Sharma, Rohan Ravi Bhutra, Sarath Kumar C, Arun S, Vignesh P, Affan Khader M.
TNPL 2023 will begin on Monday, June 12, and the first match of the season will see joint defending champions Lyca Kovai Kings taking on Idream Tiruppur Tamizhans in Coimbatore. Dindigul Dragons will kick start their campaign against the new entrants Ballsy Trichy on June 14.
A total of 27 group-stage matches will be played across four venues – Coimbatore, Dindigul, Salem, and Tirunelveli. The TNPL 2023 playoffs will be played on July 7, 8, and 10, with the final scheduled to be played on July 12.