Meet the new Pataudis and Chandrasekhars of cricket

Remember Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and his exploits on the cricket field? A total of 2,793 runs from 46 Tests might not sound monstrous in this day and age, but the former Indian captain played most of his international cricket with a permanently damaged right eye since 1961. And then there was the legendary B S Chandrasekhar, whose polio-afflicted right arm wove magical leg spin. The two played much of their cricket together, but since their retirement four-and-a-half decades ago we have hardly seen differently-abled players at the top.

Though the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) is no international cricket, but this T20 tournament, conducted by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, often serves as a stepping stone for players hoping to play the Indian Premier League. And come the 2020 season, G Periyaswamy and M Suganesh — braving their disabilities — will display their skills for Salem Spartans in the highly competitive league.