Dindigul Dragons have lifted their maiden Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) title after a thrilling six-wicket victory over the defending champions Lyca Kovai Kings in the 2024 final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai last night.
Led by veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the Dragons showcased consistent performances throughout the season. In the final, they successfully chased a modest target of 130 runs to clinch the title.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Dindigul Dragons made early inroads by picking three wickets in the powerplay, putting the Lyca Kovai Kings on the back foot. Opener S Sujay provided a brisk start with 22 runs off 12 deliveries but was soon dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy. The Kings’ middle-order batsmen Ram Arvindh and Atheeq Ur Rahman were the top scorers for their team, contributing 27 and 25 runs respectively, and helping their side reach a total of 129/7 in 20 overs.
The Dragons’ bowlers were instrumental in restricting the Kings to a low score. Sandeep Warrier, Varun Chakravarthy, and P Vignesh each picked up two wickets, ensuring the Kings couldn’t build substantial partnerships.
Chasing 130, the Dindigul Dragons faced early setbacks as they lost both openers, Vimal Khumar and Shivam Singh, for single digits. However, a crucial partnership between skipper Ravichandran Ashwin and wicketkeeper Baba Indrajith steadied the innings. Ashwin scored a composed 52 off 46 balls, while Indrajith added 32 off 35 balls.
Sarath Kumar’s quickfire 27 runs sealed the victory for the Dragons, with a towering six in the 19th over. The Dragons reached the target in 18.2 overs, marking a historic win as they lifted their first TNPL trophy.
