The Tamil Nadu Premier League 2025 has already displayed some serious fireworks, and match 26 between Chepauk Super Gillies (CSG) and Dindigul Dragons (DD) promises more of the same. Two of the most consistent teams in the competition go head-to-head, and you are watching for the big boys with the bat. In a tournament that has been largely bowler-friendly with slow pitches, these batters have changed the dial on runs and made it look easy. Whether you are a fan of fantasy cricket or just a fan of watching runs being hammered off the bat, this match has some serious players that you have to watch.
Baba Aparajith: CSG
If consistency had a face in TNPL 2025, it would most likely be Baba Aparajith in CSG’s yellow. With 434 runs in 10 matches at an average of 62 and a staggering strike rate of 156.67, Aparajith is not only scoring runs, he is bossing games. He is no longer that utility middle-order guy; this incarnation of Baba is proactive, calculated, and destructive when he is on the move.
What sets him apart? Shot selection. Baba does not slog; he constructs. He is deliberate in pacing his innings, accelerating only after he feels he is set, and often catching bowlers off-guard. Baba’s temperament will be critical against DD’s diverse bowling attack led by Ashwin. If he survives the power play, the Super Gillies are more than halfway home.
Vijay Shankar: CSG
Yes, the same Vijay Shankar. Often pigeonholed as a bits-and-pieces player in larger competitions, Shankar is showing TNPL what he’s about. 251 runs only in 8 games at a stellar average of 62.75 and a strike rate of 154.93 remind everyone that form is temporary but class is permanent, and when on-call, it is dangerous.
What has changed? Intent. Shankar is not waiting to find his feet; he is on the attack from ball one, utilising his reach to muscle bowlers over midwicket and long-off. Shankar’s position at No. 3 or 4 gives CSG flexibility, as either a builder if they collapse early, or a finisher if the platform is set. Against his mate Ashwin, it could be a tactical and personal battle – expect a few cheeky cuts and maybe a switch hit or two.
Ravichandran Ashwin: DD
We could talk all day about his carrom balls and puzzles, in the powerplay, but 396 runs in 10 innings at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 161.63? Now, that is not a typing error; that is a turning point. Ashwin, the batter, is now DD’s best-kept secret, time and again rescuing the team and turning performances into match-changing knocks.
He’s not just slogging, he’s improvising- scoops, reverse paddles, you name it. In mostly batters in slots No. 3 to No.5 options, Ashwin has become the amulet piece in late-order wickets and chasing scenarios. If CSG bowlers think they can teach Ashwin a lesson, they are in trouble- Ashwin has experience behind him, and he knows how to work the field and pressure.
As CSG & DD go head-to-head in Match 26, this isn’t just a matter of runs — it’s about impact. Apart from the mastery and finesse of Aparajith, the brute aggression of Shankar, and the all-round brilliance of Ashwin, there’s more brain involved in this battle than brawn. How these batters adjust their games to match situations may well determine who gets the points on the line.
So, who’s your money on – Aparajith’s elegance, Shankar’s brawn, or Ashwin’s unorthodoxy? Regardless of who you pick, enjoy the ride; it could be a run-drenched match!
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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