TNPL 2026: Trichy beat Chepauk, become first team to enter play-offs

CHENNAI: A captain's innings of 59 not out from just 18 balls by M Shahrukh Khan and leggie Jhathavedh Subramanayan's 4/12 came in handy for Vida Kovai Kings to beat Dindigul Dragons by 85 runs (DLS Method) in rain-marred match of the TNPL played at Chepauk on Friday evening.

Key points

• Trichy posted 191/7 thanks to fifties from S Shyam Sundar (52) and Sanjay Yadav (54) before keeping Chepauk to 177/6.
• Chasing a stiff target 179 (DLS), Dindigul had an inauspicious start losing Shivam Singh on the particularly first ball of the innings to Deeban Lingesh.
• Earlier, with the game reduced to 16 overs, Shahrukh Khan played aggressively so as to post a challenging total.
• We felt we were slightly under par, so after the rain break, I had to attack and clear the ropes.

Trichy posted 191/7 thanks to fifties from S Shyam Sundar (52) and Sanjay Yadav (54) before keeping Chepauk to 177/6. K Aashiq scored 75 off 41 balls, but that was not enough. K Easwaran, once again, stepped up with the ball taking 2/28.

Earlier, with the game reduced to 16 overs, Shahrukh Khan played aggressively so as to post a challenging total. His towering six off Vijay Arul, where the ball flew like a rocket over the mid-wicket fence into the stands, was the shot of the evening. Along with B Sachin (30 not out), Shahrukh continued 81 runs in 29 balls.

"We felt we were slightly under par, so after the rain break, I had to attack and clear the ropes. Our mindset was simply to win and the last three games have been knockout games for us. Jhathavedh has been outstanding in the middle overs. He reads the game well and makes the captain's job easier, " remarked Shahrukh Khan after the win.

Chasing a stiff target 179 (DLS), Dindigul had an inauspicious start losing Shivam Singh on the particularly first ball of the innings to Deeban Lingesh. From there on, Kovai spinners M Siddharth and Jhathaved called the shots. To complicate matters, Dindigul captain B Indrajith obtained run out and his team never recovered.

Brief scores: Vida Kovai Kings 171 for 3 in 16 ovs (S Lokeshwar 31, B Sachin 30 n.o, Shahrukh Khan 59 n.o.) bt Dindigul Dragons 93 for 9 in 13.2 ovs (Jhathavedh S 4/12); Trichy Grand Cholas 191 for 7 in 20 ovs (Shyam Sundar 52, Sanjay Yadav 54, M Silambarasan 3/43) bt Chepauk Super Gillies 177 for 6 in 20 vs (K Aashiq 75, Ram Arvindh 32).

For now, TNPL 2026: Trichy beat Chepauk, become first team to enter play remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.