Select candidates through a contest will call the shots alongside eminent panel members, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and Radhakrishnan Srinivasan, for the Tamil feed of TNPL 3. The contest, which goes by the hashtag #MicUpforTNPL, is organised by the league’s official broadcaster Star Sports. 

Experts Sivaramakrishnan and Radhakrishnan will assess the entries and the best of the lot get to speak through the microphone during various games of the upcoming season, starting July 11. The last date for the submission of entries is July 14. All the matches will be telecast live on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD and Star Sports Tamil. 

Former India cricketer and lead commentator Sivaramkrishnan was delighted with the response the contest has received thus far. “We have got more than 100 entries as of now and they have kept coming thick and fast. The tournament will go on for over a month and we (as judges) are doing our best to squeeze in as many good commentators as possible,” said Sivaramakrishnan.  

Speaking on factors that affect the selection criteria, the leg-spinner asserted, “Voice, diction and pronunciation are very important. One will have to be clear in what one says. There are people who are highly knowledgeable but fail to deliver the content in an understandable manner.”  

“One has to present the points with spontaneity. A lot of emphasis must be laid on the technical aspects of the game as a common man would obviously be aware of the general shots, rules and field positions,” added the 52-year-old. 

Another member of the jury panel, Radhakrishnan, welcomed the initiative and asserted it would help dreams come true for those who are passionate about it. “Invitation to commentate in a very popular league in Tamil Nadu is definitely a step in the right direction. When you are watching cricket, you always dream of speaking over those visuals and yearn for people to hear your voice,” remarked Radhakrishnan.   

The television presenter was moved by the standard of the entries despite participants facing the difficulty of visualising scenarios and presenting it. “People have done a fabulous job. It’s difficult to imagine things and speak. I am pleasantly surprised and mightily impressed with the response we have got. In terms of sheer quality, there are so many good commentators out there amidst all of us,” he concluded.