Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid handing over TNPL 2024 trophy to Ravichandran Ashwin. [Pic credits: @FanCode onX]

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid handed over the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2024 trophy to champions Dindigul Dragons captain Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday, August 4. The Dragons beat Lyca Kovai Kings by six wickets in the final at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to win the T20 tournament.

In a video shared by FanCode, Dravid can be seen handing over Ashwin the TNPL trophy. The duo were full of smiles as they shared a beautiful moment on the podium. The former India captain also handed individual trophies after the final.

Sharing the video on X, FanCode wrote:

“A legend handing over the #TNPL trophy to a legend.”

Watch the video below:

As far as the match is concerned, Ashwin stepped up as his side chased down 130 with 10 balls to spare. The all-rounder top scored with a 52-run knock off 46 deliveries to register a hat-trick of fifties in the tournament.

Ashwin most recently worked under Dravid’s coaching during the England tour of India. The veteran off-spinner will next work under new Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir during the Test series against Bangladesh in September.

“Great to see the old veteran Ash still contributing and still winning games for his team” – Rahul Dravid congratulates Ravichandran Ashwin on winning the TNPL 2024 trophy

Rahul Dravid congratulated Ravichandran Ashwin on winning the TNPL 2024 trophy. The 51-year-old also spoke about the significance of TNPL and other T20 leagues in players’ lives. He told Star Sports:

“I think it’s been terrific, these league TNPL obviously and then the KPL. A lot of these leagues provide a lot of great opportunities for so many young people. For these people to play in front of these crowds is just phenomenal and I think it really gives them a lot of great boost. So, well done to the TNCA for organizing this and doing it in such a spectacular fashion.

“Great to see some young players playing but also great to see the old veteran Ash still contributing and still winning games for his team.”

Dravid also spoke about his association with Chepauk while reminiscing his old days at the venue, saying:

“Lovely to be back here in Chepauk with this crowd and a ground with so many fond memories. So, it’s great to be here. I think playing league cricket here would have been the most fondest because I’ve played with my friends and really enjoyed playing league cricket here. But of course, I got my 10,000 runs in Test cricket here at this ground so that’s a great memory. Some fantastic Test matches we played here against Australia and England.”

“A lot of league cricket here, I loved playing for the India Cements. I came here as a young man, 21, played 3-4 years of league cricket here, and then played for India but I kept coming back to play league cricket and really learned a lot and really enjoyed my time here. It was tough cricket, it was hard cricket but you learned a lot and I grew a lot as a cricketer during that time just before playing for India and it made a big difference,” he added.