Former Chepauk Super Gillies skipper B. Aparajith has detailed his 'well thought-out' decision to transition from playing to mentoring in TNPL Season 10.
Former Chepauk Super Gillies captain B. Aparajith has described his decision to step back from playing and become a mentor for the franchise as a "well thought-out" move. The 32-year-old surprised the Tamil Nadu cricket community when he made himself unavailable as a player for Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) Season 10 despite not nursing an injury.
Aparajith, who led the Super Gillies across two seasons in 2024 and 2025, revealed that the shift to support staff had been under consideration for a while. Speaking on the sidelines of the Super Gillies' game against iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans on Friday, he admitted, "I was thinking about it for a long time."
Reflecting on viewing the action from behind the boundary line, Aparajith said the transition has been smooth. "It (the change) has been smooth so far, and I have been enjoying it. After a long time, I have taken up a different role. I am watching the action from the sidelines rather than being on the field," he noted. "I am used to being there. TNPL is always special to me… batting in the middle, hitting fours and sixes. Everyone will have such dreams, but it was a well thought-out call."
Aparajith also shared that he enjoys his ongoing interactions with the squad in the CSG dressing room. "Many players are approachable and have been asking me a lot of questions. I have been sharing whatever inputs I have. I am enjoying helping the boys," he added.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Cricket. Photo courtesy The Hindu Cricket.