Chennai, July 22: Tamil Nadu's cricket carnival is back with Season Two. The India Cements Ltd Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) took the game to the districts last year and heralded the arrival of new talent.

Dhoni in six-hitting challenge

As defending champions Albert Tuti Patriots take on the Dindigul Dragons in the season opener today (July 22, 7.15 PM IST) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, there is a celebratory buzz in the cricketing circles. After all, some big names will grace the venue in a six-hitting contest.

The excitement is evident and since the locals have already seen how the tournament is, they know what to expect. They surely aren't going to be disappointed since TNPL has left no stones unturned this year.

More matches in districts to benefit the locals, the qualifier games and rules similar to that of the Indian Premier League, build up with fan parks with legends of the game promoting the tournament - the TNPL, in the truest sense of the phrase, has got bigger and better this time.

The teams are raring to go, picking players according to their combination in the recent TNPL drafts that happened in Chennai. With the Albert Tuti Patriots having a near perfect TNPL last year, they didn't require to make any changes to the squad.

On the other hand, Madurai Super Giant who finished last in 2016, had to make as many as nine changes, Shahrukh Khan being their pivotal pick and also roped in Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan as their coach.

While VB Thiruvallur Veerans have Muttiah Muralitharan as their mentor, Ruby Trichy Warriors will be operating under Tinu Yohannan. Karaikudi Kaalai meanwhile have a 14-year old Nivethan Radhakrishnan in their team!

Bigger names added to the list, more games in the districts and more under-19 players playing the tournament this time does make it an interesting TNPL to look forward to.

The beautiful NPR College ground, Natham and India Cements Ground in Tirunelveli will be hosting the games again in districts this year, apart from Chennai's home ground, MA Chidambaram stadium which will host a handful of games including the finals and the opening game.

The first match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, between the defending Champions Albert Tuti Patriots and the first team to qualify to the knock-outs last year, Dindigul Dragons.

It is expected to be an epic clash since both the teams were consistent top performers in TNPL 2016 and have exceptional match winners stacked in their respective teams.

From T Natarajan to N Jagadeesan, from Washington Sundar to Aswin Crist, the battles within the battle will make it an interesting game and serve as a perfect starter to the mouth-watering clashes that will follow.

TNPL is a celebration of cricket in districts, an aim to provide entertaining cricket to the people of the most interior parts of the state.

It gave us Natarajan and Washington last year, who went on to play in the IPL (Indian Premier League). So who will it be this year? The gethu has doubled and the players are ready. Let the games begin!

OneIndia News