3 Reasons Why Dindigul Crumbled Against Chepauk in TNPL 2025

The Dindigul Dragons appeared to be on the way to chase down the imposing target of 181 with relative ease after a swift start, nourished by Ashwin’s whirlwind 67 off 46 balls. Some early wickets had fallen, but the Dragons looked to be heading for an exciting finish until the innings collapsed in the final overs, turning a likely chase into a heartbreaker. The Salem crowd watched a nail-biting contest go begging for Dindigul by just 8 runs, with the scales heavily tipped in favour of Chepauk Super Gillies through a series of moments.

Middle and Lower Order Collapse Exposed Dindigul’s Fragile Chase

To begin with, the Dragons’ middle and lower order simply failed to cash in at a very important time. After the fireworks of Ashwin and Baba Indrajith, who blasted 73 from 43 balls, suddenly the tail would hardly wag. Lokesh Raj, who took 5 of the wickets for a mere 13 runs, simply destroyed Dindigul’s momentum. From 163 for 4 in 17.6 overs, Dindigul crumbled to 172 for 8 in 3 overs and lost their way to find the finish line.

The mid-lower tail’s disintegration showed an atrocious over-reliance on the top order, with no other support actors capable of meeting the aggressive pace and intent of the big hitters. It was a sight to behold watching Lokesh Raj easily roll through the tail like a hot knife through butter, underlining how batters as deep as Dindigul have been struggling since the first time they bowled/rolled into the batting square.

Lokesh Raj’s lethal death-over burst dramatically flipped the script.

Second, Chepauk’s much-maligned hero Lokesh Raj spun this match around with a brilliant, unplanned, onslaught of bowling. His 5 wickets for 13 runs at an economy of 6.50 surely won that game. After 18 overs of throwaway cricket, Lokesh took the flurry of wickets required at the death, including the key wicket of Baba Indrajith and the frugal Varun Chakravarthy, effectively sealing Dindigul’s destiny.

His yorkers and pace variations were a masterclass in death bowling, just as the Dragons were preparing to pile it on. The moment a bowler climbs up from the cutting room floor and takes on a transformative role, you know the bowler under pressure is at a different level. Lokesh made sure that the Dindigul paid for all their sins.

Failure to Adapt Cost-Crucial Runs

Ultimately, the Dragons had a rough go at Salem, dealing with the tough conditions, and were very poor in the field, surrendering runs and opportunities. Chepauk on 180 had extras catering to this (6 wides and a no ball) so no worries, but Dindigul had not put on a tight performance, and thus the Gillies maintained a run rate above that, as a result of a combination poor fielding and poor conversion of chances meant it was easy for the opposition to settle into overs without trouble, which also only made playing a competitive score off the bat.

With unpredictable bounce and spin off the pitch, the Dragons could not put away any half chances and couldn’t stem the flow of runs they needed to keep the scoreboard hassle to a minimum very early on. When you feel so bad you hardly think about fielding, your chase becomes more of a marathon than a sprint.

The Dragons’ promising chase had been ruined with an awful concoction of poor finishing, a brilliant spell of bowling from Lokesh Raj, and some missed chances in the field that drained them of chances and morale. Ashwin and Indrajith huffed and puffed, but Dindigul were not able to find that elusive edge and were unable to hold their composure.

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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