Rain forces another washout, Kovai Kings advance to Qualifier 2

Rain played spoilsport when the Eliminator between Vida Kovai Kings and iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans was called off. This put an early end to the match and cost Kovai Kings a spot in the TNPL 2026 Qualifier 2.

Tiruppur, who batted first, only scored 15 runs in the first three overs as the Kovai bowling attack controlled the score. After that, it started to rain, which stopped play and made it impossible to do anything else.

Vida Kovai Kings qualified for Qualifier 2 by finishing ahead of Tiruppur in the league-stage points table, despite the match being called off without a result.

Kovai Kings will now face Trichy Grand Cholas in Qualifier 2 on August 26, with the winner earning a place in the TNPL 2026 Final.

Tiruppur's season is over thanks to the rainy result, but Kovai is still in the running to win the title.

Shahrukh Khan, the captain of the Vida Kovai Kings, stated, "It feels good to qualify, despite the fact that we would have preferred to play the game and earn the result." Our strong Net Run Rate made the difference. Those crucial knocks at Chepauk helped me regain my rhythm and confidence during my weak period. I focused on patience and staying mentally fresh rather than overthinking. The team gained a lot of confidence after coming back from three crushing defeats, and our unity has been a key strength. Treating the final three league games as do-or-die matches helped us peak at the right time.

Tushar Raheja, captain of the iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, stated, "It was a decent season individually and as a team, despite us letting key moments slip and our middle order not firing when needed." Our consistent top order and dependable bowling were major positives. We’ve established an aggressive, positive brand of cricket in the TNPL and will look to build on it while addressing our weaknesses next season. Personally, my focus remains on performing consistently, winning games for Tamil Nadu and playing at the highest level.