TNPL eased pressure on the institutional players

Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) kicked off its second season earlier on July 22 and will go on until August 20. However, the life of cricketers in teams owned by the institutions in TNCA league has not been a walk in the park. The players are under constant pressure of keeping their team from getting relegated.

With almost zero to no recruitment in the last couple of years, players are under great stress. State Bank of India has also been reeling in the lower division of the TNCA league for several years.

Other funding banks such as the Indian Bank and Indian Overseas Bank have also been in and out of First Division. Railways teams, too, have found it difficult to sustain themselves in the First Division.

In recent times, AG’s Office is the only team to have managed to stay in the Senior Division, courtesy NS Chaturved’s astute leadership. Chaturved, who opens for VB Thiruvallur Veerans in the TNPL, however, believes that the league has eased pressure on the institutional players and they are all enjoying their game.

TNPL has enriched cricket in the state

Speaking to Indian Express, Chaturved said, “We at AG’s Office have managed to stay in the first division. With no recruitment, we have to manage with our own staff. We cannot afford guest players like other teams, but we managed to get Unmukt Chand as a guest player last season. He played for us, not for money but to get match practice. So all of us are under pressure and we cannot play our natural game as we have to restrain ourselves for the ‘safety’ of the team.”

The opener has also lauded the league for harnessing a better crop of cricketers from the state. He also emphasized that the scoring rate in the TNCA league has gone up due to TNPL.

With the business end of TNPL approaching, Thiruvallur will take on Lyca Kovai Kings tonight in a do-or-die game at Chepauk. The winner will see themselves qualify for the eliminators.