3 player battles to watch out for in TNPL 2024 final ft. Ravichandran Ashwin vs Shahrukh Khan
The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 final will take place on Sunday, August 4, between the Lyca Kovai Kings (LKK) and the Dindigul Dragons (DD). The match will take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
LKK had a stellar league phase where they won six out of their seven games to finish at the top. They then beat the IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans in the Qualifier 1 to make it to the final. Their only loss in the tournament came against the Dindigul Dragons, their opponents in the summit clash.
DD have had an inspirational comeback in the TNPL 2024 season under the leadership of Ravichandran Ashwin. They won the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 to make it to the final and will know that having already beaten LKK once, this is anyone's game.
On that note, let's take a look at the three match-ups that could decide the course of the TNPL 2024 final:
#3 Shivam Singh vs M Siddarth
Shivam Singh has been the highest run-scorer in TNPL 2024 and is one of the main reasons the Dragons are in the final. In nine matches, he has scored 360 runs at a brilliant average of 51.42 with a hundred and three half-centuries to his name.
However, Shivam hasn't quite been able to score freely off LKK left-arm spinner M Siddarth's bowling. In 21 balls that Siddarth has bowled to Shivam in T20s, the batter has been able to score just 14 runs, albeit without being dismissed even once.
If Siddarth can keep Shivam quiet in the final, it could go a long way in helping his team grab the initiative.
#2 Sai Sudharsan vs Ravichandran Ashwin
Sai Sudharsan has played just six matches in TNPL 2024 but has scored as many as 224 runs at an average of 44.80. He is fresh off an incredible 123* in Qualifier 1 against the Tamizhans and will arguably be the biggest wicket for the Dragons in the final.
DD will look up to their skipper Ravichandran Ashwin to deliver the goods and lead by example with the ball. Sai Sudharsan has scored just 21 runs in 23 balls bowled by Ashwin despite not being dismissed even once.
Ashwin's ability to build up pressure and affinity for bowling to left-handers makes this an intriguing match-up.
#1 Ravichandran Ashwin vs Shahrukh Khan
The blockbuster match-up arguably has to be between the captains of the two sides. Shahrukh Khan has picked up 12 wickets in eight matches and is the highest wicket-taker for his side and third-highest in the tournament. His wicket-taking ability is a massive threat to the Dragons.
Ravichandran Ashwin, on the other hand, is relishing his new role as an opener and scored a sensational 69* off just 30 balls in the Qualifier 2. However, he has faced just one delivery from Shahrukh in T20s on which he has been dismissed.
With the sample data too small to decide who pips the other in the match-up, this makes it another interesting watch in the TNPL final.