The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is all set to get underway in a couple of days time with all eight teams completing their pre-tournament preparations and it is now time to shift the focus onto the cricket field. The team launches, player auctions, team management setup have all been done and dusted and it was none other than India’s limited-overs skipper MS Dhoni who officially launched the TNPL a couple of days ago in a glittering ceremony.
The moment is now upon us when we will get to witness which teams have managed to get their homework right in the first ever edition of the TNPL. The brainchild of TNCA president N Srinivasan, TNPL will be hoping to emulate the success of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) which has earned a reputation of helping youngsters in the state express their talent sharing the dressing room with established international stars.
With the likes of Test players like Ravichandran Ashwin and Murali Vijay expected to feature, albeit at a later stage owing to international commitments, the TNPL is sure to attract considerable viewership. With no history to reflect upon, all the eight teams head into the season on a level playing field though some teams do hold an advantage with players and coaches of international caliber in their ranks.
Led by Dinesh Karthik, the Albert Tuti Patriots have a good squad at their disposal with veteran bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji and promising batsman Abhinav Mukund the standout stars apart from the skipper. The Dindigul Dragons led by Ravichandran Ashwin, which also has Murugan Ashwin, who made a big impact in the IPL earlier this year, is also being touted as one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Madurai Super Giants coached by Michael Bevan has Arun Karthick as the skipper while S Badrinath will lead the Karaikudi Kaalai side to be coached by former Indian all-rounder Robin Singh. Kovai Kings will also be a strong contender once Murali Vijay returns from West Indies to lead the charge of the team from Central Tamil Nadu.
While the remaining teams – Chepauk Super Gillies, Ruby Kanchi Warriors and Thiruvallur Veerans – may not have standout names in their squad, the T20 format itself is known for giving the less-fancied teams their best shots at pulling off upsets.
A total of 31 matches will be played in the inaugural edition of the TNPL which will be held from August 24 to September 18. While the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host the most number of matches (12), the NPR College Ground in Dindigul will play host to 10 matches and the India Cements Company Ground in Tirunelveli will host 9 matches.
Here is the full schedule for the inaugural edition of the TNPL.
Match No | Date | Time | Fixture | Venue |
1 | 24 August 2016 | 6.30 pm | Albert Tuti Patriots vs Chepauk Super Gillies | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
2 | 25 August 2016 | 6.30 pm | VB Thiruvallur Veerans vs Karaikudi Kaalai | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
3 | 26 August 2016 | 6.30 pm | LYCA Kovai Kings vs Ruby Kanchi Warriors | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
4 | 27 August 2016 | 2.30 pm | Dindigul Dragons vs Madurai Super Giants | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
5 | 28 August 2016 | 2.30 pm | Chepauk Super Gillies vs Karaikudi Kaalai | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
6 | 29 August 2016 | 6.30 pm | Madurai Super Giants vs VB Thiruvallur Veerans | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
7 | 30 August 2016 | 6.30 pm | Dindigul Dragons vs Ruby Kanchi Warriors | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
8 | 31 August 2016 | 6.30 pm | LYCA Kovai Kings vs Albert Tuti Patriots | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
9 | 1 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | VB Thiruvallur Veerans vs Dindigul Dragons | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
10 | 2 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | LYCA Kovai Kings vs Madurai Super Giants | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
11 | 3 Sep 2016 | 2.30 pm | Karaikudi Kaalai vs Albert Tuti Patriots | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
12 | 3 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Ruby Kanchi Warriors vs Chepauk Super Gillies | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
13 | 4 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Albert Tuti Patriots vs Dindigul Dragons | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
14 | 5 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Ruby Kanchi Warriors vs VB Thiruvallur Veerans | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
15 | 5 Sep 2016 | 2.30 pm | Chepauk Super Gillies vs LYCA Kovai Kings | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
16 | 6 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Karaikudi Kaalai vs Madurai Super Giants | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
17 | 7 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Albert Tuti Patriots vs VB Thiruvallur Veerans | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
18 | 8 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Chepauk Super Gillies vs Dindigul Dragons | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
19 | 9 Sep 2016 | 2.30 pm | Madurai Super Giants vs Ruby Kanchi Warriors | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
20 | 9 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Karaikudi Kaalai vs LYCA Kovai Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
21 | 10 Sep 2016 | 2.30 pm | Madurai Super Giants vs Chepauk Super Gillies | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
22 | 10 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | VB Thiruvallur Veerans vs LYCA Kovai Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
23 | 11 Sep 2016 | 2.30 pm | Dindigul Dragons vs Karaikudi Kaalai | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
24 | 11 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Ruby Kanchi Warriors vs Albert Tuti Patriots | NPR College Ground, Dindigul |
25 | 12 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Chepauk Super Gillies vs VB Thiruvallur Veerans | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
26 | 13 Sep 2016 | 2.30 pm | LYCA Kovai Kings vs Dindigul Dragons | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
27 | 13 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Albert Tuti Patriots vs Madurai Super Giants | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
28 | 14 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Ruby Kanchi Warriors vs Karaikudi Kaalai | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
29 | 16 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Semi-finals 1 | India Cements Company Ground, Tirunelveli |
30 | 17 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Semi-finals 2 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
31 | 18 Sep 2016 | 6.30 pm | Finals | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
You can download the TNPL 2016 Schedule in pdf here.
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