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Dindigul Dragons vs Lyca Kovai Kings Match 25 Full Commentary
Result · Aug 21 2026, Fri - 03:30 PM (IST)
DD 93/10 (13.2)
LKK 171/3 (16.0)
Lyca Kovai Kings beat Dindigul Dragons by 85 runs (DLS method)
CRR:6.98
ಪಂದ್ಯದ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮ
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Welcome back folks! The revised target for Dindigul Dragons is 179. The Kovai Kings form a huddle near the ropes before scattering across the park. M Viju Arul has been subbed out with Krish E coming in as the impact sub for the Dragons. And for the Kovai Kings, Andre Siddarth makes way for Ramesh Divakar. Shivam Singh and Krish E are the two openers. K Deeban Lingesh has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...
... THE RUN CHASE ...
King Khan to the rescue - With an uncluttered mind, Shahrukh Khan came out swinging hard and bossed proceedings, smashing the fastest fifty of the season off just 17 balls, as the Kings piled on 74 runs in the last 3.5 overs alone. And in a must-win game, captain Khan has put the Kovai Kings in a very strong position. The Dindigul Dragons' bowlers simply could not put a lid on the flow of runs. They did try mixing things up with a few variations, but with the ball skidding through nicely under the bat, they were taken to the cleaners in the closing overs. The target for them will be revised through DLS method as they come to chase. Back in a bit for the run chase.
Flying start to free fall - Kovai Kings began brightly, clearing the first hurdle unscathed at 56/0 through the Powerplay on a fresh mixed-soil wicket which looked really good for batting from the outset. Radhakrishnan and Suresh Lokeshawar laid a solid platform, but BK Kishore's breakthrough opened the floodgates, and from there the Dragons kept chipping away, dragging Kovai Kings from a healthy 60/0 down to 90/3 before an hour-long rain delay trimmed the game down to a 16-overs-per-side contest.
6.12 pm IST - Wham, bam, slam - What a finish for Kovai Kings through Shahrukh, who sprints off to the dressing room like it is just another day at the office for him. The Dragons' fire has well and truly been snuffed out, leaking far too many runs down the back end, especially once play resumed after the rain break. They await the revised DLS target which they will be chasing, but still, 171 on the board looks an imposing one.
SIX! Finishes off in style by the skipper! Tries for the wide yorker, does Sakthi, but misses out by some yards. Shahrukh needs no second invitation as he frees his arms and slices it over cover-point for another six. LYCA KOVAI KINGS FINISH AT 171/3!
SIX! FIFTY FOR SHAHRUKH KHAN! Off just 17 balls and this is the fastest fifty by anyone in this season of TNPL. Though the TV umpire will need to rubber stamp the boundary first. It's a low full toss, wide of off. He reaches out and launches it through the line, sailing high toward the vacant cover point fence. Looks to have landed flush on the cushion in real time. Replays confirm that it has landed on the boundary cushions on the full.
SIX! Dismissed out of his presence! Wide full toss from Sakthi, outside off. Shahrukh Khan stays deep inside his crease, generates immense power and deposits it over long off for a cracking six. Two balls left and Shahrukh moves to 47 off just 16 balls.
2 runs, that is lofted away for a couple.
1 run, the batter lofts this in the air and gets a run for the team.
Short of a length, outside off, Balasubramaniam Sachin shanks it over and wide of cover for a couple of runs. 150 up for the Kovai Kings!
Oh, no! Arul slips in a high full toss from around the stumps. Balasubramaniam Sachin looks to pull it over mid-wicket but miscues it over mid-wicket. The ball lands in the safe zone and they cross for a single. Sachin throws a glance at the on-field umpire, pleading for a waist height No Ball, but the umpire stands firm. Straight to the review he goes. Ball Tracking shows Sachin's waist height at 1.04m, with the delivery arriving at 0.93m, which is below the mark. It is deemed a fair delivery, and the on-field call stands.
1 run, the batter is on the front foot and has driven this through point for a run.
SIX! PLUNDERED! Back-of-the-hand slower one, short on middle, Shahrukh Khan gives it a full humpty. Waits for the ball to arrive and mercilessly swings it over deep mid-wicket for an enormous six. That almost flew through to the Marina Beach.
No run, beaten! Lovely bowling as the batter is defeated all ends up.
NO BALL AND FOUR! Off the outside edge! Full from around the stump, wide outside off. Shahrukh Khan throws kitchen-sink at it to smash it through cover, but gets a massive outside edge. Baba Indrajith flings to his right, but the ball flies out of his reach and rolls to the deep third fence for a boundary. Viju has overstepped here and a Free Hit is up next. This brings up the 50-run partnership between Sachin and Shahrukh. Alarm bells ringing for the Dragons.
No run. Play and a miss! The batter wasn't quite sure how to play that one.
1 run, that is pulled away through the mid wicket region for a single.
That was a loooooooong and expensive over from Warrier, with 23 runs coming off it. 160 looks very much possible for the Kovai Kings now. Right, 2 overs left in the innings. M Viju Arul returns into the attack. 1/5 in 2 overs so far.
FOUR! Fortuitous! Back of a length, slanted across the batter. Shahrukh Khan tries to pump it over mid off, but gets a fat inside edge past the stumps and keeper's left for a boundary.
WIDE! Comes from around the stumps, does Sandeep and pushes it wide outside the off stump. It breaches the tramline as Khan lets it be.
1 run, the batter plays the square cut. Fetches a single.
Wide! The batter lets the ball go outside off stump.
1 run, the batter lofts this in the air and gets a run for the team.
WIDE! Dear me! That has gone all wrong for Warrier. He is under tremendous pressure now. Slower full toss, well outside off, close to the tramline, left alone by Shahrukh. The on-field umpire has sent this upstairs to check for a waist height No Ball. The Ball Tracking shows that the ball is arriving at 0.95m, well below Shahrukh's waist height of 1.11m, so No Ball is ruled out on that front. And the TV umpire confirms it pitched beyond the stumps, which means it will be called a wide instead.
Looks like the ball has been lost in the stands and can't be retrieved. The fourth umpire brings out the box of replacement balls. The on-field umpire picks another one and we are good to resume.
SIX! Easy peasy for Khan at the moment! Ominous signs for the Dragons! A half-volley, around the leg stump. Shahrukh Khan picks it up nicely and whips it far away into the stands behind long leg for a huge six. Not good bowling from someone experienced like Warrier.
FOUR! That has flown off his bat. Shahrukh getting into the act now. On a length, across the batter, pace off. Shahrukh Khan gets the ball at a very comfortable height and slaps it over extra cover for another boundary.
FOUR! Shahrukh Khan special! Back of a length, on top of the stumps. Shahrukh Khan stands tall and flat bats it over the bowler's head and bisects long on and long off to perfection for a boundary. 17 balls left in the innings.
Nirankar Sharma is still seen clutching at his lower left back, and is walking off the field to get treatment. Sandeep Warrier is back on. 0/17 in 2 overs so far.
Straight to the pole position - What a turnaround this has been for Lyca Kovai Kings. Mid-season, it looked like they had hit a wall with three straight defeats. But they have climbed out of that nosedive in style. First a thumping 116-run win over the Grand Cholas, then a 5-wicket demolition of the Super Gillies, and now an 85-run victory over the Dragons that has done their net run rate a world of good as they soar to the top of the table with 8 points. For the Dragons, this ends a very forgetful season with just two wins to show for. Well then, that wraps up the first game. But worry not, Chepauk Super Gillies and Trichy Grand Cholas are all set for the second leg of this Friday doubleheader in Chennai. The start has been pushed back a touch, but the toss is done, and the Grand Cholas have opted to bat first. Our build-up to that game is already underway, so do hop on over to that tab. Cheers!
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - The captain of Lyca Kovai Kings, SHAHRUKH KHAN, deservingly receives the award for his unbeaten smackathon of 59 (18), including 6 sixes and 4 fours.
... Time for the post-match Presentation ...
Shahrukh's blitz floors Dindigul - Kovai Kings raced to 56/0 in the Powerplay on a fresh, batting-friendly surface, with Radhakrishnan and Suresh Lokeshawar laying a solid platform. BK Kishore's breakthrough triggered a mini collapse though, and the Dragons dragged Kovai Kings from 60/0 to 90/3 before an hour-long rain delay trimmed the contest to 16 overs a side. Shahrukh Khan had other plans as the game resumed. The captain came out breathing fire as he smashed the fastest fifty of the season off just 17 balls, powering the Kings to 74 runs in the final 3.5 overs and putting them firmly in the driver's seat of this must-win clash. The Dragons' bowlers simply had no answers, their variations skidding through under the bat as they were taken to the cleaners in the closing stages.
Dragons caged - Dindigul were chasing a big target in a trimmed game and hunting 179 was always going to be a big ask. But they just couldn't get the desired start through their openers and just kept losing wickets one after the other. Only four batters got into their teens but none could convert their starts. From Lyca's pov, it was a complete team performance as they worked in sync, first with the ball and then with the ball. Jhathavedh Subramanyan starred with a spectacular four-wicket haul while Manimaran Siddharth trapped the batters with his guile, picking up two wickets of his own while Shahrukh Khan, the hero with the bat, capped off a brilliant day at office with a wicket of his own.
Kings rule at Chepauk - In a must-win match, the Kovai Kings brought their A-game to keep their playoff hopes very much alive. In fact, they have now unleashed three back-to-back big wins and this one will surely help their net run rate soar through the roof. On the other hand, a very forgetful season comes to an end for Baba Indrajith's Dindigul Dragons. They were absolutely outplayed in every department, and that pretty much sums up the entire season for them where they just couldn't get a complete team performance.
Nirankar Sharma has not recovered from the injury suffered and won't be able to participate any more with the bat. As it stands, Nirankar Sharma is retired out.
OUT! BOWLED! There goes the ninth. Shahrukh Khan serves up a full ball, landing it right in front of the stumps. Sandeep Warrier goes for the premeditated sweep, gets his lines all wrong, and hears the death rattle behind him. And that is that. The players are already shaking hands, with Nirankar Sharma still not fit enough to bat after retiring hurt earlier with that lower back issue. LYCA KOVAI KINGS WIN BY 85 RUNS (DLS).
No run, the batter has just watchfully blocked this out.
With that fourth wicket, Jhathavedh Subramanyan overtakes K Easwaran to become the leading wicke-taker in the season.
1 run, there comes the broom and the ball is swept away for a run.
1 run, this is worked away for a run.
No run, that is driven through the third man, but it is a dot ball.
BK Kishore is the new batter in at number 10.
OUT! LBW! Jhathavedh Subramanyan has his fourth wicket and it is all smiles in the Kovai Kings' camp. Pitched around the off stump and it is the googly that spins into the batter. Sakthi Karuppasamy M gets down on a knee to play the slog sweep but plays all over it and is struck on the back thigh pad. A mild appeal for LBW, but the umpire stays unmoved. However, Jhathavedh Subramanyan convinces Shahrukh to go upstairs for a review. UltraEdge confirms no bat is involved. Ball Tracking comes up with the impact in line of the stumps and is projected to crash into the middle stump. The on-field decision is revised and Dindigul Dragons are 91/8, chasing 179 (DLS).
No run. Swing and a miss! The batter swings hard at that one but does not connect.
1 run, the batter sweeps this away for a single.
Last 4 overs left. The Kovai Kings need 3 wickets to win, with the Dragons requiring 88 runs. Jhathavedh Subramanyan (2-0-9-3) is back on.
No run, the batter looks to play that but is comprehensively beaten.
1 run, the batter goes deep in the crease and guides it through third man for a single.
Ummm... not a pleasing sign as the ground staff are readying themselves to bring on the covers as it has started to drizzle out there. Nothing heavy just yet, more of a light spit, but a heavier shower does look to be lurking close by. Let's hope the heavens hold off, with a second game still to be played tonight. Meanwhile, the Super Gillies players can be seen waiting it out in the dressing room.
No run, a gentle push by the batter but cannot pierce the gap.
No run, a gentle push by the batter but cannot pierce the gap.
1 run, the batter plays the scoop shot for a run.
No run, the batter looks to play that but is comprehensively beaten.
1 run, this is worked away for a run.
1 run, that is flicked away through square leg for a single.
1 run, the batter plays the scoop shot for a run.
SIX! No one's moving! Pitched outside off, on a good length. Sakthi Karuppasamy M goes deep inside the crease, brings the long levers at play and smashes it over deep extra cover for a huge six.
1 run, that is just a mere push for a run.