The first edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) features some of the top Indian cricketers at the moment like R Ashwin, M Vijay and Dinesh Karthik. Of course, the likes of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni will not be seen in the competition, but nevertheless, the cricket action is expected to be at the highest level.

Chennai Super Kings did not participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this time around and will be missing from the scene next year as well and therefore, former BCCI supremo and current Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) President N Srinivasan came up with a plan to spread smiles once again to the cricket fans in the southern part of India.

The TNPL sees eight teams in action in a round-robin contest, pretty similar to that of the IPL. The matches begin on Wednesday from the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The final, scheduled for Sep. 18, also takes place at the same venue.

"This is a big moment for Tamil Nadu cricket. The tournament will take cricket to the distant corners of the State," stated Srinivasan.

Full squads of all teams.

Here is the full schedule of the tournament:

Date Team A   Team B Time Venue
Aug 24 Chepauk  v Thoothukudi 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Aug 25 Tiruvallur v Karaikudi 6:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Aug 26 Coimbatore v Kancheepuram 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Aug 27 Dindigul v Madurai 2:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Aug 28 Chepauk v Karaikudi 2:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Aug 29 Tiruvallur v Madurai 6:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Aug 30 Dindigul v Kancheepuram 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Aug 31 Coimbatore v Thoothukudi 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 1 Dindigul v Tiruvallur 6:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 2 Madurai v Coimbatore 6:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 3 Karaikudi v Thoothukudi 2:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 3 Kancheepuram v Chepauk 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 4 Dindigul v Thoothukudi 6:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 5 Tiruvallur v Kancheepuram 2:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 5 Coimbatore v Chepauk 6:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 6 Madurai v Karaikudi 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 7 Tiruvallur v Thoothukudi 6:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Sep 8 Dindigul v Chepauk 6:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Sep 9 Madurai v Kancheepuram 2:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Sep 9 Karaikudi v Coimbatore 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 10 Madurai v Chepauk 2:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Sep 10 Tiruvallur v Coimbatore 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 11 Dindigul v Karaikudi 2:30 p.m. IST NPR College Ground, Dindigul
Sep 11 Kancheepuram v Thoothukudi 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 12 Tiruvallur v Chepauk 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 13 Dindigul v Coimbatore 2:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 13 Thoothukudi v Madurai 6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 14 Karaikudi v Kancheepuram 6:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 16 Semi Final 1 v   6:30 p.m. IST Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli
Sep 17 Semi Final 2 v   6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sep 18 Final v   6:30 p.m. IST MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

TV listings: Star Sports Network.