160/10 (19.4)
CR : 8.14
194/8 (20.0)
CR : 9.70
Kovai Kings won by 34 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Sachin B
77(42)
10:59 PM IST, Local Time: SKM Salem Spartans are folded for 160 runs, and VIDA Kovai Kings start their TNPL 2026 campaign with a comprehensive 34-run win. First, they impressed with the bat, posting a hefty total on the board. Then, their bowlers ensured Salem Spartans never managed to stage a comeback, picking up wickets at regular intervals and keeping the pressure on throughout the chase.
S Abishiek (SKM Salem Spartans Captain): "[What was your plan when the innings started?] The plan was to get the team off to a good start. The top four couldn't do so. The ball was sticking a bit compared to the first innings. That was the reason.
[What better plans could they have made?] We should have adjusted to the surface a bit better and played. Then we also almost chased the score. The start wasn't good, and so we lost.
[on Nidhish S Rajagopal's innings] He played really well. He kept playing, but somehow, we couldn't support him.
[Learning from tonight] We can bat better by adjusting to the stickiness of the pitch."
[What better plans could they have made?] We should have adjusted to the surface a bit better and played. Then we also almost chased the score. The start wasn't good, and so we lost.
[on Nidhish S Rajagopal's innings] He played really well. He kept playing, but somehow, we couldn't support him.
[Learning from tonight] We can bat better by adjusting to the stickiness of the pitch."
Time for the Post-Match Presentations....
Maximum Fours In the Match Award: Sachin B
Highest Strike-Rate In the Match Award: Sachin B
Most Dependable Player of the Match: Deeban Lingesh
Player of the Match: Sachin B
Sachin B (POTM): "[Scoring in the first innings might have increased your confidence?] Definitely! To get such momentum at the start of the season, it has increased the confidence, and as the tournament progresses, I am looking forward to contributing more and more.
[How did you pace your innings on this pitch?] Tried to play as few dot balls as possible. Rotated the strike. The conversations were mainly about it with the batting partners.
[195 at the halfway mark. What were your thoughts?] It was a good score on this wicket. It was a bit sticky. Slower ones were tough to get away. For our bowling attack, it was a good score."
[How did you pace your innings on this pitch?] Tried to play as few dot balls as possible. Rotated the strike. The conversations were mainly about it with the batting partners.
[195 at the halfway mark. What were your thoughts?] It was a good score on this wicket. It was a bit sticky. Slower ones were tough to get away. For our bowling attack, it was a good score."
Shahrukh Khan (VIDA Kovai Kings Captain): "(On his team's preparation and opening win) We're a very process-oriented team, and that's what we focus on going into games. The preparation was done well before the tournament. The boys were fully ready before it began, and we just tried to keep things simple. Fortunately, things went our way.
(On 195 and the debutant, Kannan's innings) It was a bit sticky early on, but the way everybody batted was pleasing. Kannan rotated the strike well. Yes, it was a bit tough in the middle when he was batting, but for a debutant in his first game, you have to give him some space. The good thing was that we kept wickets in hand, which helped us get to 194-195. Then Lokeshwar obviously goes off the blocks. I don't need to tell everybody's name. It was obviously a good knock from B Sachin.
(On the bowling performance of Jhathavedh Subramanyan after Deeban's start) Jhathavedh has always been a wicket-taker for us. He's bowled the tough overs in the past, and he'll continue to do that in the future. Our spinners are high quality. With Siddharth and Jhathavedh in the team, what more could you ask for as a captain? I'm a very delighted captain to have both of them in the side."
(On 195 and the debutant, Kannan's innings) It was a bit sticky early on, but the way everybody batted was pleasing. Kannan rotated the strike well. Yes, it was a bit tough in the middle when he was batting, but for a debutant in his first game, you have to give him some space. The good thing was that we kept wickets in hand, which helped us get to 194-195. Then Lokeshwar obviously goes off the blocks. I don't need to tell everybody's name. It was obviously a good knock from B Sachin.
(On the bowling performance of Jhathavedh Subramanyan after Deeban's start) Jhathavedh has always been a wicket-taker for us. He's bowled the tough overs in the past, and he'll continue to do that in the future. Our spinners are high quality. With Siddharth and Jhathavedh in the team, what more could you ask for as a captain? I'm a very delighted captain to have both of them in the side."
That’s all from this one-sided contest, folks! Vida Kovai Kings start their campaign with a convincing 39-run win over SKM Salem Spartans. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. For now, it’s me, Deepak Prakash, signing off from this space along with co-commentator Dev Rajawat and scorer/analyst Paras Yadav. CHEERS!