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The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is back with its 9th edition, and the tournament opener promises an electrifying clash between last year’s champions, Dindigul Dragons , and their rivals, Lyca Kovai Kings , on June 5, 2025 , at the SNR College Cricket Stadium in Coimbatore. The Dragons enter this season as reigning champions after a historic title win in TNPL 2024, while the Kings aim to bounce back from last year’s final defeat and reclaim their dominance.
Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Dindigul Dragons vs Lyca Kovai Kings |
| Date | June 5, 2025 |
| Venue | SNR College Cricket Stadium, Coimbatore |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Competition | Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), Season 9 |
Team Previews
Dindigul Dragons Preview
Dindigul Dragons are the team to beat in TNPL 2025, riding high on the momentum of their championship victory last season. They finished fourth in the group stage but stormed through the playoffs to lift the trophy. Their consistency in crunch games makes them a formidable side.
At the top of the order, Shivam Singh remains their key batter, having scored 364 runs last season with an average of 45 and a strike rate of 135. Ravichandran Ashwin and Baba Indrajith provide stability in the middle order, both crossing the 250-run mark last season. Ashwin also brings leadership as captain.
In bowling, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier were instrumental with 12 wickets each in TNPL 2024. Chakaravarthy has been in sublime form in the IPL and Champions Trophy, making him a dangerous asset. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ganeshan Periyaswamy offer spin options that can control the middle overs.
With most of their core retained, Dindigul look well-prepared for another deep run in the tournament.
Lyca Kovai Kings Preview
Lyca Kovai Kings were the standout team in the 2024 league phase, winning six out of seven matches before falling short in the final against Dindigul Dragons. This season, they will be eager to go one step further and finally claim the trophy.
Shahrukh Khan was their second-highest run-scorer last season with 225 runs at a strike rate of 183, and he will now shoulder more responsibility with Sai Sudharsan absent due to national duties. Batsmen like Balasubramaniam Sachin, K Vishal Vaidhya, and Suresh Lokeshwar will need to step up to fill the void left by Sudharsan.
Their bowling attack is led by Jhathavedh Subramanyan, who took 8 wickets at an economy of 6.09 last season. M Siddharth adds experience, while Guru Raghavendran and Govinth G bring variety and depth.
Despite missing their star player, the Kings still have a balanced squad and strong team chemistry, making them a tough opponent for any side.
Favourite Team to Win Today’s Match
| Favourite Team | Reason (100 words) |
|---|---|
| Dindigul Dragons | Reigning champions with a settled lineup, strong batting core, and experienced bowlers. Key players like Shivam Singh, Ashwin, and Chakaravarthy are in form. Lyca Kovai Kings miss Sai Sudharsan, weakening their batting line-up. Historical head-to-head trends and toss advantage also favor Dindigul. |
Fantasy Team XI (with Explanation)
| Player Name | Role | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivam Singh | Batter | Dindigul Dragons | Top run-getter for Dindigul last season; solid technique and consistency. |
| Shahrukh Khan (c) | Batter / All-rounder | Lyca Kovai Kings | Captaincy choice; aggressive style, good strike rate, and leadership. |
| Baba Indrajith | Batter / Wicketkeeper | Dindigul Dragons | Reliable middle-order batsman and safe behind the stumps. |
| Balasubramaniam Sachin | Batter | Lyca Kovai Kings | Dependable opener; contributes early stability. |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | All-rounder | Dindigul Dragons | Explosive finisher and impactful spinner; recent IPL form boosts value. |
| Jhathavedh Subramanyan | Bowler | Lyca Kovai Kings | Consistent performer with good economy and wicket-taking ability. |
| Sandeep Warrier | Bowler | Dindigul Dragons | Experienced death bowler; capable of picking key wickets. |
| M Siddharth | Bowler | Lyca Kovai Kings | Smart spinner; controls middle overs effectively. |
| Ganeshan Periyaswamy | Bowler | Dindigul Dragons | Valuable lower-order contributor and economical bowler. |
| K Vishal Vaidhya | Batter | Lyca Kovai Kings | Middle-order stabilizer; decent strike rate. |
| Hunny Saini | Batter | Dindigul Dragons | Power-hitter down the order; useful in death overs. |
Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions
- Captain : Shahrukh Khan (LKK) – Aggressive batting, high strike rate, and leadership role.
- Vice-Captain : Shivam Singh (DID) – Most consistent batter for Dindigul; likely to anchor the innings.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Teams
- Pradheep Vishal (LKK) – Inconsistent performer; lacks big scores or impactful bowling.
- Ambrish R S (LKK) – Limited impact with bat/ball; not a regular match-winner.
Squads
Dindigul Dragons Squad
- Ravichandran Ashwin (c)
- Shivam Singh
- Baba Indrajith (wk)
- Hunny Saini
- Vimal Khumar
- Maan Bafna
- M Karthik Saran
- Sandeep Warrier
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Ganeshan Periyaswamy
- Dinesh H/M Viju Arul
- Natarajan V
- Ankit Rajpoot
- Akash Viswanathan
Lyca Kovai Kings Squad
- Shahrukh Khan (c)
- Balasubramaniam Sachin
- Jitendra Kumar
- K Vishal Vaidhya
- Suresh Lokeshwar (wk)
- Pradheep Vishal
- Ramalingam Rohit
- Jhathavedh Subramanyan
- M Siddharth
- P Bhuvaneswaran
- Ambrish R S
- Govinth G
- Guru Raghavendran
- Abishek Porel
Probable Playing XI
| Dindigul Dragons | Lyca Kovai Kings |
|---|---|
| Vimal Khumar | Shahrukh Khan (c) |
| Shivam Singh | Balasubramaniam Sachin |
| Ravichandran Ashwin (c) | Jitendra Kumar |
| Baba Indrajith (wk) | K Vishal Vaidhya |
| Maan Bafna | Suresh Lokeshwar (wk) |
| Hunny Saini | Pradheep Vishal |
| M Karthik Saran | Ramalingam Rohit |
| Sandeep Warrier | Jhathavedh Subramanyan |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | M Siddharth |
| Ganeshan Periyaswamy | P Bhuvaneswaran |
| Dinesh H/M Viju Arul | Guru Raghavendran |
Pitch Report
- Venue : SNR College Cricket Stadium, Coimbatore
- Average First Innings Score : 151
- Highest Score : 236/2 by Nellai Royal Kings
- Nature of Pitch : Batting-friendly surface with assistance for spinners during the middle overs. Pacers may get some movement early on.
- Expected Target : 170–180 should be competitive.
- Fielding Advantage : Teams batting second have won 5 out of 7 completed matches here in TNPL 2024.
Toss Prediction
- Likely Outcome : Toss is expected to be won by either side around 50-50.
- Decision : Field first. Chasing under lights offers better visibility and dew factor helps bowlers later in the game.
Winner Prediction
Dindigul Dragons are our predicted winners of the opening match of TNPL 2025. They come into the game with a settled and successful squad from last season, while Lyca Kovai Kings face challenges without their top scorer, Sai Sudharsan. With better all-round balance and proven match-winners, Dindigul are better placed to start their title defense on a high note.
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