TIRUCHY: The fourth edition of the Sankar Cement Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) gets underway with renewed vigour at Dindigul with former champions ‘Chepauk Super Gillies’ taking on local favourites and last year’s finalists ‘Dindigul Dragons’ on July 19, according to Hemang Badani, former Indian cricketer and coach for the ‘Chepauk Super Gillies’.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Badani said that the TNPL has created the biggest impact in the interior parts of the state bringing talented players to the fore from these regions. Franchises of one of the most professionally-run Twenty20 leagues in the country are thrilled with the untested talent available at their disposal, and are putting their might behind such players.
At the 2019 TNPL player draft on Thursday, out of the 45 players picked by the franchises, 28 were from the districts, he added.
He said the TNPL’s fourth edition is set to feature a host of debutants, and most importantly 82 players from the districts, which further indicates the inroads the league has made in the interior parts of the state.
Dr. R. N. Baba, media manager, TNCA/TNPL, said that the tournament will feature 32 matches and will be held between July 19 and August 15. Dindigul and Tirunelveli will host 15 matches each, with Chennai hosting the remaining two, including the finals. The tournament will also witness seven double-headers with the first and second match kick-starting at 3:15 pm and 7:15 pm respectively. The tournament is set to be telecast on ‘Star Sports Tamil’ and ‘Vijay Super’, he added.
