Under-19 World Cup winner Deepesh Devendran clocks 146 kmph in TNPL

Eighteen-year-old Indian fast bowler Deepesh Devendran recorded a bowling speed of 146 kmph during a Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match, reinforcing his status as a formidable talent in domestic cricket. Representing the Madurai Panthers, Devendran consistently operated above the 140 kmph mark in their two-wicket victory over the Trichy Grand Cholas, taking one wicket while conceding 25 runs.

The performance occurred less than six months after Devendran helped India secure the ICC Under-19 World Cup title in Zimbabwe. His inclusion in that winning squad was bolstered by a tournament-leading 14 wickets in the Under-19 Asia Cup, where he delivered disciplined spells against opponents including Pakistan and Bangladesh before India defeated England by 100 runs in the final.

Devendran’s sustained pace during the TNPL match against the Trichy Grand Cholas suggests that his high velocity is a consistent attribute rather than an isolated incident. The Madurai Panthers successfully chased a target of 173/7, winning the match with two balls to spare, with Devendran’s bowling figures contributing to restricting the opposition’s total.

The young pacer comes from a cricketing family with deep roots in Tamil Nadu. His father, Vasudevan Devendran, played domestic cricket for the state and was part of the team that won the inaugural Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2007. Vasudevan’s official domestic career ended abruptly after he joined the International Cricket League (ICL), a rebel tournament not sanctioned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following an offer from Kapil Dev.

Vasudevan Devendran currently works as an assistant coach with the India Pistons, a cricket club in Chennai, where he has continued to mentor young cricketers, including his son. Deepesh Devendran’s emergence in the TNPL highlights the continuity of his family’s involvement in the sport, even as he carves out his own path in professional cricket.