Player Watch: Sai Sudharsan, the 19-year old setting the TNPL alight
Only a week in, the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2021 has already thrown up another promising young talent in the form of Sai Sudharsan. Sudharsan, a 19-year-old left-hand batsman playing for Lyca Kovai Kings, has played three exceptional knocks in the early days of the competition.
He first top-scored for the Kovai Kings with a breakthrough innings of 87 off 43 deliveries in the opening game of TNPL 2021 against Salem Spartans. The innings in Chepauk featured eight fours and five maximums. The left-hander proved to be his team’s shining light in an otherwise incomplete batting performance.
In his next innings of the tournament against the Ruby Trichy Warriors, Sudharsan made another fine half-century to help Kovai Kings successfully chase down a challenging target of 172 with nearly two overs to spare. The Tamil Nadu cricketer’s maturity belied his age in the run-chase, as he batted professionally in a magnificent partnership with Ganga Sridhar Raju (74) and propelled his team to victory.
Young gun Sai Sudharsan only second in the run-charts for TNPL 2021
With the two excellent knocks behind him, Sai Sudharsan continued his rich vein of form in the next game versus Dindigul Dragons, scoring an unbeaten 40 off 24 balls to put the final touches in what was a dominating display with the bat by Kovai Kings.
Sudharsan has now made 184 runs from his three innings in the TNPL 2021 at an eye-catching strike-rate of 167.27. The left-hander, who has been dismissed only once so far, has also smashed 18 fours and 6 sixes along the way. Over 100 runs from his tally have come in boundaries alone.
Sudharsan:சீக்கிரம் Blue Coloursல Represent பண்ணுவேன்@LycaKovaiKings இன் இளம் சூறாவளி Sai Sudharsan பேட்டியின் போது தெரிவித்த நம்பிக்கையளிக்கும் வார்த்தைகள்
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What makes Sudharsan’s performances in the TNPL this season special is the fact that he has only just started playing competitive cricket. The youngster has had a quick progression from the TNCA league division cricket to earning the faith of the Kovai Kings franchise in the TNPL, Tamil Nadu’s premier T20 tournament.
If he continues to dominate in the TNPL, Sudharsan wouldn’t be far away from breaking into the Tamil Nadu state side for senior Indian domestic cricket and may also catch the eye of IPL scouts, who are constantly on the lookout for some new, young talent.