5 Cricketers from TNPL 2019 who might get a bid in IPL 2020
Over the years the IPL teams have discovered young talents from around the country and a few TNPL stars might get a chance in the upcoming cash-rich IPL season.
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After the success of IPL, there is growing popularity of T20 leagues in the country. Several regions like Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, etc have started their own T20 tournaments to unearth young and exciting talents. These youngsters are scouted by IPL franchises and are given a chance to make their dreams into reality.
Of late the Tamil Nadu Premier League is in attention for the involvement of Indian stars like R Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay. In the recently concluded TNPL 2019, Chepauk Super Gillies won their second title by beating Dindigul Dragons in the final.
In the 4-year history of the tournament, prominent names like Washington Sundar and Vijay Shankar have emerged from their moving performances in the tournament. Over the years the IPL teams have discovered young talents from around the country and a few TNPL stars might get a chance in the upcoming cash-rich IPL season.
Here we look at 5 players who might get a bid in the IPL auction on back of their TNPL performance
1. C Hari Nishanth
Opening for Dindigul Dragons, C Hari Nishanth ended up as the fourth-highest run-scorer of the tournament. He was instrumental in his sides run through to the finals of the TNPL. He scored 322 runs in 10 games at an impressive average of 40. The left-hander played a match-winning inning of 81* of 56 deliveries in a 10-wicket victory against Karaikudi Kaalai.
Born in Ooty, Nishanth is known for elegant cover-drives and for having a watchful eye. Nishanth smashed 4 half-centuries which were the joint-most with his teammate N Jagadeesan. His strike rate of 119 shows for his circumspect temperament and strike rotation ability. But he is capable of thumping sixes as well. He smashed 18 sixes this season, ahead of Murali Vijay’s tally of 16 maximums.
He has represented Tamil Nadu under-19 in Vinoo Mankad Trophy and Cooch Bihar Trophy in 2014-15. The southpaw was mentored by his club coach A.G.Guruswamy at the CDCA; S Badrinath and N Jagadeesan were also trained at the same academy. The 23-year-old will be under considerations for franchises, not only for his exciting batting prospects but he is also handy with the ball.
2. Ganeshan Periyasamy
Right arm pacer Ganeshan Periyasamy was the hero for Chepauk as the team won their second title. He was adjudged man of the match in the final as well as the man of the tournament. While defending a low score of 127 runs, Periyasamy took two wickets in his first over. With 15 runs required in the last over, Periyasamy kept his nerves and castled 3 batsmen to end with figures of 5/15.
He bagged a total of 21 wickets in 9 matches, which is the highest for any bowler in the history of TNPL. The right-handed bowler came into limelight because of his slinging action which is much similar to Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga. He averaged 10.47 and bowled with an economy of 6.47. His strike rate of 9.7 is a testament to his knack of regular wicket-taking.
His sparkling performance with the ball in TNPL should get him an IPL contract. The 25-year-old pacer would wish to showcase his talents in the biggest T20 league in the world. Periyasamy could be the X-factor which the franchises will look to have in their squad.
3. Baba Aparajith
Baba Aparajith made his Ranji Trophy debut for Tamil Nadu at the age of 17. He was part of India’s under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2012. He scored 171 runs at an average of 28 including a half-century against Pakistan in the quarter-final. Aparajith was the man of the match in the quarterfinal and semifinal of the under-19 world cup.
The Chennai born all-rounder hit his straps and notched up two double centuries in the 2013-14 domestic season. His remarkable form got him an IPL contract with the Chennai Super Kings in 2014 and then with Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016. But Dhoni’s policy of not tinkering with the line-up meant Aparajith spent the entire time on the sidelines.
The 25-year-old impressed everyone in the TNPL with his temperamental abilities. Playing for Kanchi Veerans, he scored 242 runs at an average of 40 including two scores in excess of fifty. Aparajith trained under coach S. Balaji alongside Indian team member Vijay Shankar. He can bowl decent off-breaks as well. Teams looking for a reliable batsman in the middle-order will bid for Baba Aparajith.
4. Arun Karthik
KB Arun Karthik had a notable start to his career. In his debut Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, he played an inning of 149 in the 2008 season. Karthik started as an opener but has now shifted his role to a middle-order batsman for Tamil Nadu.
Arun Karthik’s moment of fame came in Champions League T20 in 2011. RCB needed 6 runs of the last ball against South Australia Redbacks to qualify for the semi-finals. Karthik struck a maximum of a length delivery from Dan Christian to fire RCB into the semis. He was part of RCB from 2011 to 2013 but in a star-studded batting line-up, Karthik couldn’t get many opportunities.
The 33-year-old played a vital part in his side, Madurai Panthers run to the final stages of the TNPL 2019. He amassed 356 runs at an average of 45 striking at 148. The right-hander smashed a hundred and two half-centuries this season. He is an experienced campaigner and these numbers should tempt IPL franchises to bid on the Arun Karthik.
5. L Kiran Akash
Known for his strict line and lengths, Kiran Akash is a future candidate for the Tamil Nadu team. The 22-year-old pacer is a part of under-19 and under-23 state division team for Tamil Nadu. He is the strike bowler for Alwarpet in TNCA 1st division league. He played for Karaikudi Kalai in 2017, and then for Madurai Panthers for the last two seasons of TNPL.
Madurai Panthers reached till the penultimate stage of the tournament and Kiran Akash was the leader of their bowling attack. In TNPL 2019 he scalped a total of 17wickets, which is the second-highest in this tournament. He picked a wicket every 12 balls with a decent economy of 7.31. He is useful with the bat too.
Teams looking for an effective new-ball bowler might go after Kiran Akash in the upcoming auction.
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