# Easwaran’s 69 seals dramatic TNPL win for Nellai Royal Kings

2026-08-13T11:43:21+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

S. Rithik Easwaran smashed 69 off 31 balls to steer Nellai Royal Kings to a two-wicket win over VIDA Kovai Kings in a TNPL thriller at Dindigul on Thursday. Chasing 163, Nellai slipped to 92 for five before Easwaran's counter-attack. Needing 17 off the final over, he hit two sixes off G. Kishoor, and Sachin Rathi took a bye off the last ball to seal victory. Earlier, V. Yudheeswaran took three for 25 to restrict Kovai to 162 for nine. Shahrukh Khan said the team could have bowled better in slog overs. In another match, Shyam Sundar's unbeaten 104 off 57 balls powered Trichy Grand Cholas to a 17-run win over iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans. Opener Tushar Raheja's 87 went in vain.

## Coverage

- sportstar.thehindu.com <https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/domestic/vida-kovai-kings-vs-nellai-royal-kings-live-score-tnpl-2026-match-updates-highlights/article71340326.ece>
- thehindu.com <https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/rithik-is-royal-king-guides-team-home-in-a-thriller/article71342700.ece>
- newindianexpress.com <https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2026/Aug/13/tnpl-royal-show-from-easwaran-takes-nellai-home>

Tags: Cricket, live score, Nellai Royal Kings, Tamil Nadu Premier League, TNPL, VIDA Kovai Kings
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nellai-royal-kings-eye-third-win-in-tnpl-2026-against-kovai-kings/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nellai-royal-kings-eye-third-win-in-tnpl-2026-against-kovai-kings/#story-in-brief

Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.