TNPL 2022 Eliminator | LKK vs SMP | Preview & CREX XI

After a month of non-stop T20 action in the league stage, two of the finest teams of the season – Siechem Madurai Panthers and Lyca Kovai Kings will now battle it out against one another in the Eliminator of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2022 at Salem on Tuesday. 

It is a crucial match for both sides as the one finishing on the losing end will be out of the tournament, while the winner will play the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 for a berth in the final.

The teams’ journey so far

Lyca Kovai Kings have experienced a topsy-turvy season, winning four of their seven league stage fixtures and finishing off at the fourth spot in the points table.

The Shahrukh Khan-led side must be high on confidence as they are coming into this contest after swatting aside the table-toppers Nellai Royal Kings by five runs. 

Siechem Madurai Panthers, on the other hand, won five of their seven league matches and finished third in the TNPL standings. 

They claimed an easy 36-run victory in a low-scoring affair against Ruby Trichy Warriors in their final league stage fixture. 

With two of the best sides taking the field against each other, an exhilarating thriller is on the cards in Salem today. 

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Key Players

J Suresh Kumar is the leading run-scorer for Kovai Kings this season, amassing 352 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 164.48. 

B Sai Sudharsan, the left-hander from Kovai Kings, has been in great touch lately. Sudharsan has accumulated 218 runs in 7 matches at an average of 43.60 and a strike rate of 132.9. 

Shahrukh Khan, the star all-rounder and skipper of Lyca Kovai Kings, has picked up ten wickets from seven matches, while with the bat, he has garnered 107 runs. 

Kiran Akash, the leading wicket-taker for Madurai Panthers this season, has taken 12 wickets in 6 matches at a brilliant strike rate of 11.33.

Match Details 

Venue: SCF Cricket Ground, Salem, India

Date & Time: July 26 at 7:15 PM IST & Local Time

Live Streaming: Voot App and Star Sports Network  

Pitch Report 

The pitch at Salem has seen spinners dominating the last few games, and we can expect the same trend to be followed today. 

Variations in pace will be the key for the seamers. We can expect a total of 140-150 here, with both teams looking to chase at this venue.

CREX XI Suggestion 

Wicket-Keepers: J Suresh Kumar, Arun Karthik

Batters: B Sai Sudharsan, NS Chaturved, Ganga Sridhar Raju

All-Rounders: Shahrukh Khan, Jagatheesan Kousik, Abhishek Tanwar

Bowlers: Sunny Sandhu, R Divakar, Kiran Akash

Captain: J Suresh Kumar

Vice-Captain: Shahrukh Khan

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