Watch, TNPL 2025 | Ravichandran Ashwin starts chain reaction as Madurai batters steal three runs in hilarious comedy of errors

‌Dindigul Dragons went up to third place in the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2025 points table with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Siechem Madurai Panthers at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground in Salem on Saturday. Electing to bowl first, Dindigul restricted Madurai to 150/8 in 20 overs with middle-order batter Atheeq Ur Rahman top-scoring for the side with a 41-ball 50. Dindigul’s disciplined bowling effort was led by left-arm spinner DT Chandrasekar, who picked up 2/27 in four overs while medium pacer Ganeshan Periyaswamy ended with figures of 2/40.

In return, DD had a cakewalk as openers Shivam Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin made light work of the target with a stand of 124 in just 64 balls. Shivam smashed six sixes and eight fours to remain unbeaten on 86 off 41 balls as DD cantered to the target with 45 balls to spare. In the first innings, after being reduced to 145/8 with two wickets falling off consecutive deliveries in the last over, SMP resigned to their destinies when the overthrow gods decided to shower and take them to the 150-run mark.

After getting a run-out dismissal in the third ball and top-scorer Rahman’s wicket via an LBW in the very next ball, Dindigul, and captain Ashwin in particular were eager to register a team hat-trick. With the batter making a full-blooded drive off a wide yorker, the ball went straight to Ashwin at extra cover who did an excellent job to stop it and in a burst of energy aimed for the stumps.

It missed the target by miles as bowler Periyaswamy was also unable to collect it. With only a ball remaining after this, the batters decided to take the second run as the fielder who came running in from the boundary went for a throw at the keeper’s end to repeat the events. This time the keeper missed the throw with the ball going to the short third fielder.

As though the batters were running with a press of a switch they started for the third. And hilariously the bowler again missed but luckily for Dindigul, the batters did not take a fourth run. Ashwin stood watching the proceedings helplessly with a sense of guilt for starting off the entire proceedings. As he shook his head silently in disapproval, Shivam, who made the final throw, put on a sheepish smile on his face as Madurai got a couple off the next ball to go till 150. Though the extra runs did not cost the team in the bigger picture, it made for an entertaining watch with the exaggerated Tamil commentary matching the antics on the field.

LOL!