SMP vs NRK Match Prediction, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Pitch Report, and Playing XI of 16th Match of TNPL 2025

Tamil Nadu Premier League 2025, 16th Match played between SMP vs NRK at SCF Cricket Ground, Salem, stay updated with ScoreWaves for Indian Premier League 2025, SMP vs NRK 16th Match fantasy tips, Playing 11, Pitch reports, Fastest cricket score, fastest updates, sports news and more

TNPL 2025: SMP vs NRK – 16th Match

Match 16 of the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2025 will see the Siechem Madurai Panthers take on the Nellai Royal Kings. The Panthers will be desperate to get back on track after a crushing loss to Dindigul Dragons, while the Royal Kings head into this clash with momentum on their side. 

Madurai’s last outing was one to forget. They were thoroughly outplayed by the Dragons, who chased down a modest total of 150 with nine wickets to spare. With just one win in three games so far, the Panthers have struggled to find consistency and will need to turn things around quickly if they hope to stay in the hunt. 

In contrast, Nellai Royal Kings have had a much smoother ride. They’ve picked up two wins from three games and are coming off a dominant performance against the Salem Spartans. Left-arm spinner Sachin Rathi was the star of the show with incredible figures of 5 for 17, while D Santhosh Kumar lit up the chase with a blistering 73 off just 36 balls. With both bat and ball clicking, NRK look like a well-rounded outfit. 

The head-to-head numbers also paint a grim picture for Madurai. In five previous meetings, the Panthers are yet to beat the Royal Kings, with three defeats and two no-results to their name. While anything can happen in T20 cricket, the form book suggests that Nellai Royal Kings have the upper hand heading into this match. Their top order looks in great touch, their bowling unit is firing, and they’ll be confident of continuing their strong run. Madurai, on the other hand, have their backs against the wall and will need something special to snap their losing streak against NRK. 

Head-to-Head: SMP vs NRK- Who Holds the Advantage?

SMP and NRK have had some fierce battles over the years, with NRK historically holding the upper hand. With the match being played at SCF Cricket Ground, NRK will have the home advantage, and their Bowling attack of Sachin Rathi and Valliappan could be a major threat on a turning track. Their batting lineup, led by Arun Karthik(c), Ajitesh Guruswamy, Rithik Easwaran(w), PS Nirmal Kumar, NS Harish, Sonu Yadav and Muhammed Adnan Khan looks solid. On the other hand, SMP boasts an explosive batting unit, featuring Ram Arvindh, Balchander Anirudh, NS Chaturved(c), Atheeq Ur Rahman, C Sarath Kumar and S Ganesh. However, their biggest concern has always been their bowling attack, which often struggles in high-scoring encounters. While P Vignesh and Gurjapneet Singh add depth, they’ll need to handle NRK’s aggressive top order. Given SMP’s superior bowling attack and home conditions, they might start as slight favorites. But NRK’s firepower makes them dangerous, and if their bowling holds up, an upset could be on the cards. Let’s break down their head-to-head record to see who holds the edge ahead of the TNPL 2025 opener:

Total Matches Played: 3

SMP Wins: 0

NRK Wins: 3

No Result/Abandoned Matches: 0

Despite NRK having the firepower of Arun Yoghi, Athish S R, Arun Karthik, Ajitesh Guruswamy, Muhammed Adnan Khan, and S Risheek Kumar looks solid, CSG’s all-around strength and explosive players like Abhishek Tanwar, and RS Mokit Hariharan give them the upper hand in this head-to-head contest. However, it’s always been a close battle, with both sides frequently trading blows in TNPL clashes.

Match Predictions: Who Will Win the Match?

As far as fantasy cricket is concerned, NRK might have the edge with their explosive batting lineup led by Arun Yoghi, Athish S R, Arun Karthik, Ajitesh Guruswamy, Muhammed Adnan Khan, and S Risheek Kumar looks solid, but CSG’s balanced squad and the presence of all-rounders like Abhishek Tanwar, and RS Mokit Hariharan make them a formidable opponent. SNR College Cricket Ground, with its high-scoring potential, might slightly favor the batting-heavy teams, so expect a run-fest.

Injury Update:

No any Injury concerns.

SMP vs NRK Match, Date, Time, & Venue: 

Match: SMP vs NRK 16th Match of TNPL 2025     

Date: 18 June 2025   

Time: 7:15 PM    

Stadium: SCF Cricket Ground   

Location: Salem

SMP vs NRK Match Pitch Report:     

The SCF Cricket Ground in Salem offers a balanced pitch that challenges both batsmen and bowlers. Early in the match, the surface favors the batsmen, allowing them to play aggressive strokes with good bounce and a solid foundation. A first-innings score between 160-170 runs is generally considered competitive. However, as the game progresses, the pitch tends to slow down, providing assistance to spinners, which can make chasing more difficult. Teams chasing targets around 170-180 runs generally have a fighting chance, but anything above 190 can put them under pressure, especially with the slow nature of the pitch in the second innings. Overall, it’s a dynamic surface where both batting and bowling strategies need to adapt to the conditions, and a score around 180+ is often a strong target for the chasing side.  

Possible Playing 11 for SMP:

Ram Arvindh, Balchander Anirudh, NS Chaturved(c), Atheeq Ur Rahman, C Sarath Kumar, S Ganesh(w), P Saravanan, Murugan Ashwin, S Rajalingam, P Vignesh, Gurjapneet Singh

Impact Players: Surya Anand S, Karthik Meiyappan, Shankar Ganesh, J Ajay Chetan, S Shyam Sundar

Possible playing 11 for NRK:   

Arun Karthik(c), Ajitesh Guruswamy, Rithik Easwaran(w), PS Nirmal Kumar, NS Harish, Sonu Yadav, Muhammed Adnan Khan, Sachin Rathi, Valliappan Yudheeswaran, Emmanuel Cherian, Rocky Bhasker

Impact Players: D Santhosh Kumar, Athish SR, Ajay Krishna, J Rohan, S Risheek Kumar 

SMP vs NRK Fantasy Team:

Wicketkeepers: Ram Arvindh,  Arun Karthik

Batsman: Balchander Anirudh, NS Chaturved, Muhammed Adnan Khan, D Santhosh Kumar

All-rounders:  Murugan Ashwin, P Saravanan Sonu Yadav

Bowlers: Sachin Rathi, Valliappan Yudheeswaran

SMP vs NRK Team for Today Match:

SMP vs NRK Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:     

Choice 1: Sonu Yadav (c), (C), Balchander Anirudh (VC)   

Choice 2: Sonu Yadav (C), Murugan Ashwin (VC)

SMP vs NRK Fantasy Prediction Backups:   

C Sarath Kumar, S Ganesh, Ajitesh Guruswamy, Rithik Easwaran  

Disclaimer:     

The author has provided you with the above-mentioned match prediction on the basis of his research, understanding, and analysis, consider the points and make your own decision

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