TNPL | What’s in a name? Change it!

The rebranding of Tamil Nadu Premier League franchises has become common practice over the years.

For instance, former titlists Lyca Kovai Kings and Siechem Madurai Panthers have undergone ownership changes ahead of the 10th edition and have been renamed as Vida Kovai Kings and Madurai Panthers respectively.

But in a rare occurrence, two players will take the field with a “new identity” after having featured in the league under a different name. Former Tamil Nadu top-order batter Bharath Shankar will don the Panthers jersey with ‘Siddharth Mahadevan’ on the back of it while off-spinner G. Godson will turn out for Trichy Grand Cholas as ‘G. Sai Shriraam’.

Siddharth, who is returning to the TNPL after a seven-year absence, is eyeing a second wind in his new avatar. “It is a combination of peace and destruction. I am still the same old explosive batter that I was, but I am operating in a more refined way now.

“I hope to repay the faith the franchise has shown in me (he was purchased for ₹8.7 lakh),” Siddharth, better known as Barry in TN cricket circles, told The Hindu.

For Sai Shriraam, TNPL 2026 marks a comeback to the T20 competition after a one-year gap (he represented the Trichy side in 2023 and 2024). “I changed my name due to personal reasons two years ago. Many found out about it only after the franchise shared a post about me on social media. They only knew me as Godson,” said Sai Shriraam.

Siddharth and Sai Shriraam will be out to make a ‘name’ for themselves.