Team India players Ravichandran Ashwin and Dinesh Karthik have lined up with their respective franchises in the ongoing edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League. The seasoned Tamil campaigners will be available for selection for the majority of the remaining tournament.
Ash and DK are in action at the TNPL on Saturday
Both Karthik and Ashwin have been in action on Saturday’s double-header day, with Karthik turning up as the gloveman for IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, while Ashwin was thrust into the mantle of captaincy immediately on his return to the Dindigul Dragons setup.
Ash and DK’s participation in the TNPL 2022 comes after the conclusion of their respective roles in India’s ongoing tour of England. Karthik featured in all three T20Is, while Ashwin was a member of the test team but did not get a chance to play. Neither of them were considered for selection in the ongoing ODI series. The duo will return to action in the international setup in the 3 T20Is in West Indies which start on 29 July.
Return of the master! ? Welcome back to the TNPL @DineshKarthik ?
Enna Tamizhans, epdi indha surprise? ?#idream #tiruppur #tamizhans #tnpl #dineshkarthik #master #NammaOoruNammaGethu #tnpl2022 #TamilNaduPremierLeague #matchday #TiruppurTamizhans #meesayamurukkisollu pic.twitter.com/oyTq0RMdrn— iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans (@TeamTiruppur) July 16, 2022
?? ??? ??? ???????????? ???'?? ??? ???? ?????? ???! Namma Ash will be part of our squad for the remainder of this season.??#RaviAshwin #RavichandranAshwin #TNPL2022 #TNPL #DindigulDragons #IdhuNeruppuDa pic.twitter.com/PF0AtPNWI6
— Dindigul Dragons (@DindigulDragons) July 16, 2022
Unlikely to feature in TNPL playoffs
This will most likely make them unavailable for selection in the TNPL 2022 playoffs should their teams manage to qualify. The first two matches are scheduled on 26 and 27 July, which would leave them with very little time to quarantine ahead of the West Indies T20Is.
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Ashwin and Karthik’s decision to play in the TNPL 2022 instead of taking a break shows their commitment towards finding a fixed spot in the Indian T20I side. Both of them are approaching the twilights of their respective careers, and playing an extra tournament would keep them match-ready for upcoming international matches. For the time being, Ash and DK both would be eyeing a spot in the team for the Asia Cup T20 that is slated to be played in late August.