TNPL 2019: 3 terrific performers who could get an IPL 2020 contract

In a low-scoring final of the Tamil Nadu Premier League held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on August 15th, Chepauk Super Gillies defeated Dindigul Dragons by 12 runs and emerged as the champions of this edition. Batting first, the Super Gillies could manage just 126 runs, losing 8 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

Although the score did seem underwhelming at the end of the first innings, Kaushik Gandhi's men staged an impressive fightback in the second innings. G Periyaswamy's terrific five-wicket haul was the difference between both the sides as the winners of the 2017 edition restricted the Dragons to 114 runs, thereby adding yet another TNPL trophy to their cabinet.

As seen in the previous seasons, Indian Premier League franchises rely on the local T20 competitions such as the Tamil Nadu Premier League and the Karnataka Premier League to hire unknown and talented domestic players to their teams. The TNPL has already seen players such as T Natarajan and Varun Chakravarthy make IPL squads in the past years, and in this season too, there are a few players who deserve an IPL contract for the next season.

They have been consistent throughout this edition, and if they can carry forward this form to domestic tournaments in the coming months, an opportunity to play in the Indian Premier League could be in the offing.

Here are three such players:

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#3 Hari Nishaanth

Hari Nishaanth helped his team reach the finals this season

Hari Nishaanth launched 18 sixes in TNPL 2019, the highest by any player this season. A left-handed opening batsman from Ooty, Hari scored 322 runs in the tournament at a strike-rate of 119.7. Hari can anchor an innings to perfection, and if required, can also accelerate at will. Although there have been concerns regarding his ability to convert his starts to bigger scores, the 23-year-old has a lot of time on his hands to improve on his game.

Franchises looking to nurture talent for the future could make use of players in the mould of Hari Nishaanth. They are raw and come with a bundle of talent, and if given a chance, they can turn a game on its head on a given day.

While big-hitters are easily available throughout the country, it is difficult to find a player who has the talent to adapt his game according to the match's situation. Hari is such a player, and hence, teams could go after him in the auctions.

#2 Baba Aparajith

It is time that an IPL franchise gives a run of games to Baba Aparajith

Part of the successful U-19 World Cup-winning team in 2012, Baba Aparajith was expected to make inroads into the Indian team. However, the 25-year-old never fulfilled his potential at the domestic level, and hence, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder is yet to play a game in the Indian Premier League despite being a part of the CSK and the Rising Pune Supergiant squads in the past.

Although Aparajith is bowling less in recent times, he can always offer you a few overs of right-arm off-spin on the pitch. In the recently concluded TNPL season, Aparajith just bowled the 6 overs but he did it at an excellent T20 economy of 5.67. However, it is his skills with the bat which could make him an ideal pick for any IPL franchise.

In the 8 games he played this season for the Kanchi Veerans, Aparajith amassed 242 runs at an impressive average of 40.33. He is a complete batsman who can offer stability in the middle-order, and is especially good at negotiating the spinners in the middle overs. Teams can rely on him if they lose early wickets, and if Aparajith is set in the death overs, he can also make the most of it with a few big hits.

It is just that he needs a run of games at the highest level and if any can team can offer this in the upcoming edition, we could see the rise of a special player in the future.

#1 G Periyaswamy

G Periyaswamy was announced as the TNPL 2019 Player of the Series

G Periyaswamy was the best pace bowler in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Premier League. Although he was playing in his debut season, Periyaswamy did not allow his nerves to get to him and took many by surprise with his temperament. His five-wicket haul in the final was the main reason behind his team's success in defending a modest total.

With a Lasith Malinga-like action, Periyaswamy picked up 21 wickets in the 9 games he played for his franchise. He bowled at an impressive average of 10.47 with an economy of 6.47, a stat which could be noticed by many IPL franchises.

Strong depth in the bowling line-up is a must for any squad to improve their chances in a tournament like the IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad has been a prime example of this strategy in the past, and hence, Periyaswamy could be targeted to bolster the bowling reserves of a team. His Malinga-esque bowling action can offer variety to the attack, and as seen in the TNPL, Periyaswamy can bowl well at both ends of the innings.

All these factors make him a viable player for the Indian Premier League and he could command a decent bid in the auctions.