NRK vs SS Fantasy Prediction, 24th Match: Nellai Royal Kings vs Salem Spartans Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, TNPL 2026

Salem Spartans arrive in Chennai still searching for their first win of TNPL 2026. Five matches, five defeats, and a net run rate of minus 2.392 that is comfortably the worst in the competition. Nellai Royal Kings, who have won three of five, could hardly ask for a better opponent, having won six of the last seven meetings between the sides. With both teams heading into this clash with contrasting form, the NRK vs SS Fantasy Team will be an interesting one for fantasy cricket players. Sonu Yadav captains Nellai, and S Abishiek leads a Salem side badly needing something to go right.

NRK vs SS Match Details

Match: Nellai Royal Kings vs Salem Spartans, 24th Match, Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2026
Date: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
TV in India: Sony Sports Ten 4 Tamil

Recent Form

Nellai Royal Kings have won three of their last five, and their most recent outing was their best. They chased down 163 against Vida Kovai Kings with a ball to spare, edging a tight finish. They also beat Dindigul Dragons by six wickets and opened their campaign by posting 204/6 and bowling Chepauk Super Gillies out for 154.

Their two defeats came against Trichy Grand Cholas, where they were dismissed for 137 chasing 183, and against IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, who ran down their 206/8 in 18.1 overs.

Salem Spartans have lost all five matches this season. They were beaten by Dindigul Dragons in a rain shortened 15 over game where the Dragons made 239/6, lost to Chepauk Super Gillies by five wickets after posting 182/7, went down to Madurai Panthers by 36 runs, lost to Trichy Grand Cholas by seven wickets, and were beaten by Vida Kovai Kings in their opener.

The pattern in those defeats is consistent. Salem have posted competitive totals more than once, 182 against Chepauk being the clearest example, but they have not been able to defend them or restrict opponents.

Points Table

Nellai Royal Kings sit on six points from five matches with three wins and a net run rate of +0.133. Salem Spartans are on zero points from five with a net run rate of minus 2.392, the worst in the tournament by a distance. With the league stage nearing its end, Salem’s playoff hopes are effectively gone, while Nellai remain in the hunt.

NRK vs SS Head to Head Record

This is the most one sided fixture in the tournament. Nellai Royal Kings lead 6-1 over the last meetings and have won every one of the last five encounters shown.

Their most recent win came in TNPL 2025, when they bowled Salem out for 126/9 and chased it down in 13.4 overs for the loss of two wickets. Before that they won by three wickets in 2024, on DLS in 2023, by five wickets in 2022 and by eight wickets in 2021. Salem have not beaten Nellai in years.

NRK vs SS Squads

Nellai Royal Kings: Sonu Yadav captains the side, an all rounder who contributes with bat and ball. Guruswamy Ajitesh brings a strong record in this competition, and the top order also features U Mukilesh and Rithik Easwaran, with Santosh K Duraisamy keeping wicket. Sachin Rathi and V Yudheeswaran lead the bowling. Full squad: Ramsingh Sonu Yadav (c), G Ajitesh, U Mukilesh, Muhammed Adnan Khan, Sachin Sre Dev, S Risheek Kumar, Rithik Easwaran, Santosh K Duraisamy (wk), S R Athish, NS Harish, Arun Yoghi, Bharath Kumar M, S Subash, Ramalingam Rohit, Sachin Rathi, Bhasker Rocky, Rohan J, V Yudheeswaran, Emmanuel Cherian, S Selvaganapathi.

Salem Spartans: S Abishiek captains the side. Rajendran Vivek and Sunny Sandhu give the middle order some depth, and M Poiyamozhi, who took 16 wickets in a past TNPL season, leads the bowling attack. Full squad: S Abishiek (c), Rajendran Vivek, Eshwar M (wk), M Dinesh Vedaguru, R Kavin, Udaya Kumar M, C Hari Nishaanth, Boopathi Kumar, Nidhish S Rajagopal, Sunny Sandhu, Harish Kumar, M Poiyamozhi, B Iyappan, Rahil Shah, S Ajith Ram, VS Karthick Manikandan, ME Yazh Arun Mozhi, Mohammed Mohammed, Dev Rahul, Sudhan Kandepan.

Pitch Report

MA Chidambaram Stadium has been a lower scoring venue than the Dindigul ground used in the first phase. Across 60 matches here, the team bowling first has won 50 percent against 43 percent batting first, with an average first innings score of 147 dropping to 127 in the second.

Pace has dominated recently, taking 66 percent of the wickets over the last 10 matches, an unusual pattern for Chennai. The most recent match at the ground saw Vida Kovai Kings chase down 168 against Chepauk Super Gillies with seven balls remaining, another result that went the way of the side bowling first.

Weather Report

Forecasts vary for Thursday. One source shows around a 35 percent chance of rain in Chennai, while Crex’s forecast for the ground puts it at 71 percent, with mostly cloudy conditions, 58 percent humidity and temperatures around 33°C. This tournament has already produced two shortened matches, so a reduced overs contest is possible. Check the toss before locking your fantasy team.

NRK vs SS Fantasy Team Key Players Recent Form

Nellai Royal Kings (NRK)

Rithik Easwaran: ( 69 Runs, 18 Runs, )
U Mukilesh: ( 26 Runs, 63 Runs, )
Valliappan Yudheeswaran: 3 Wickets,
Sachin Rathi: ( 2 Wickets, 3 Wickets, )

Salem Spartans (SS)

S Abhishek: ( 38 Runs, 0 Runs, )
Hari Nishanth: ( 8 Runs, 18 Runs, )
Kartik Manikandan: 2 Wickets,
Rajendra Vivek: ( 3 Wickets, 21 Runs, )

Note: Player recent form is based on their latest appearances before the NRK vs SS match and may be updated after the toss if required.

Probable Playing XIs

Nellai Royal Kings (Probable): Rithik Easwaran, S R Athish, U Mukilesh, G Ajitesh, Sonu Yadav (c), Santosh K Duraisamy (wk), NS Harish, V Yudheeswaran, Sachin Rathi, Emmanuel Cherian, Bhasker Rocky.

Salem Spartans (Probable): C Hari Nishaanth, Nidhish S Rajagopal, S Abishiek (c), Rajendran Vivek, Sunny Sandhu, Harish Kumar, Eshwar M (wk), M Poiyamozhi, S Ajith Ram, VS Karthick Manikandan, Rahil Shah.

These are the likely lineups. Both are confirmed at the toss, and rain could force late changes.

Key Player Battles

Sonu Yadav vs M Poiyamozhi: Nellai’s captain against Salem’s most experienced wicket taker. Poiyamozhi has 16 wickets in a past TNPL season and needs a big performance to give his side any chance.

Guruswamy Ajitesh vs Sunny Sandhu: Ajitesh has one of the better records in this competition, and Sandhu’s all round skills are among Salem’s few reliable assets this season.

S Abishiek vs Sachin Rathi: Salem’s captain has to lead from the front, and Rathi with the new ball on a pace friendly surface is the first obstacle.

NRK vs SS Fantasy Team: Small League

Wicket-Keeper: Rithik Easwaran,

Batter: U Mukilesh, S Abishiek, Rajendran Vivek, G Ajitesh (VC),

All- Rounder: Sonu Yadav (C), NS Harish, Sunny Sandhu,

Bowler: Sachin Rathi, M Poiyamozhi, V Yudheeswaran,

Sonu Yadav gets the captaincy as Nellai’s captain and an all rounder who scores points with bat and ball, against an opponent his side has beaten repeatedly. Ajitesh is vice captain as their most proven batter. The team is weighted towards Nellai given the gulf in form, with Salem’s better performers included as differentials.

NRK vs SS Fantasy Team: Grand League

Wicket-Keeper: S R Athish,

Batter: Rajendran Vivek (VC), G Ajitesh, S Abishiek,

All-Rounder: Sonu Yadav, Sunny Sandhu, Harish Kumar, Santosh K Duraisamy,

Bowler: M Poiyamozhi (C), Sachin Rathi, V Yudheeswaran,

For grand leagues, Poiyamozhi is the contrarian captaincy pick. He is Salem’s most likely wicket taker and will carry almost no ownership given his side’s record. Vivek as vice captain is Salem’s most dependable batter. Santosh K Duraisamy and S R Athish are cheaper Nellai picks who could still contribute.

Also Read- MP vs ITT Fantasy Prediction, 23rd Match: Madurai Panthers vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, TNPL 2026

NRK vs SS Match Prediction

There is very little to argue with here. Nellai Royal Kings have won six of the last seven meetings between these sides, they have three wins from five this season, and they are playing an opponent who have lost every match they have played.

Salem Spartans have shown flashes, posting 182 against Chepauk Super Gillies, but they have not defended a total or chased one down all tournament, and their net run rate of minus 2.392 reflects how heavily some of those defeats have gone.

Nellai Royal Kings are strong favourites. The only realistic paths to a Salem win are a rain shortened lottery or a standout individual performance from Poiyamozhi or Abishiek.

NRK vs SS Fantasy Team FAQs

Q. Who will win the NRK vs SS 24th match today?
A. Nellai Royal Kings are heavy favourites. They have won six of the last seven meetings against Salem Spartans, who remain winless after five matches this season.

Q. What is the NRK vs SS Fantasy prediction for the 24th match?
A. Sonu Yadav and Guruswamy Ajitesh are the top captaincy picks. M Poiyamozhi and Rajendran Vivek are contrarian options for grand leagues.

Q. Have Salem Spartans won a match in TNPL 2026?
A. No. They have lost all five of their matches and sit on zero points with a net run rate of minus 2.392, the worst in the tournament.

Q. What is the pitch report for MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai?
A. It is a lower scoring venue than the Dindigul ground used earlier in the tournament, with an average first innings score of 147. Pace bowlers have taken 66 percent of the wickets in recent matches.

Q. What is the head to head record between Nellai Royal Kings and Salem Spartans?
A. Nellai lead 6-1 and have won every one of the last five meetings, including a 2025 win where they chased 127 in 13.4 overs.

Q. What is the probable Playing XI for NRK vs SS?
A. Nellai Royal Kings should be led by Sonu Yadav with Guruswamy Ajitesh in the batting. Salem Spartans will build around captain S Abishiek and M Poiyamozhi. Final XIs are confirmed at the toss.

Q. Will rain affect the NRK vs SS match?
A. Possibly. Forecasts range from around 35 percent up to 71 percent depending on the source, so check the toss before finalising your team.