SMF Team 2025 Players List: History, Records, and Achievements

SKM Salem Spartans History

SKM Salem Spartans Team has been competing in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) tournament since 2021. A VIVO Chennai South Distributor, Selvakumar M, owns the SKM Salem Spartans team, founded in 2020. Earlier, the team was known as Tuti Patriots, which became the first team to win the TNPL title in 2016. They defeated Chepauk Super Gillies (CSG) in the final by 122 runs. After scoring 215 in the first inning of the final, they bundled out CSG to just 93. M Ganesh Moorthi becomes the Player of the Match (POTM) for his 4 wickets in the final.

Tuti Patriots (TP) also played the final of the TNPL in 2017, against the same opposition, Chepauk Super Gillies. But this time, CSG took their revenge and went on to win the final by 6 wickets while chasing a target of 144. Washington Sundar was a part of the TP team and became the Player of the Tournament (POTT) that season. In 2019, TP franchise removed its co-owners, and in 2020, M. Selvakumar took over the ownership. The team name was changed from Tuti Patriots to Salem Spartans. The team is also known by its nickname, Namma Spartans. Since 2021, the team has finished two times at No. 7 and as many times at No. 8 in the points table. It shows that their performances over the last four seasons have not been up to the mark.  

SKM Salem Spartans Squad

The number of SKM Salem Spartans players in the squad is 20. They have a blend of some experienced and young players in the team. The team has the right balance with a number of all-rounders in the team. Abishiek S has the leadership duties this season (2025).

SKM Salem Spartans Schedule

SKM Salem Spartans will play a total of 7 league stage matches in the TNPL 2025. They started their campaign against Seichem Madurai Panthers on June 08, 2025 at the SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore. They will play their last league stage game against Lyca Kovai Kings on June 28, 2025, at the NPR College Ground, Dindigul. A total of four venues will host the Salem Spartans fixtures. Those venues are SNR College Cricket Ground (Coimbatore), SCF Cricket Ground (Salem), Indian Cements Company Ground (Tirunelveli), and NPR College Ground (Dindigul). Their two games, against SMP and DD, will start at 3:15 PM IST. Apart from those two games, the team will play all the games starting at 7:15 PM IST.

SKM Salem Spartans Captain and Vice Captain Over The Years

The SKM Salem Spartans team made its debut in 2021. Since 2021, all five different captains have led the SKM Salem Spartans team. Daryl Ferrario led the Spartans team in the 2021 season. Murugan Ashwin was the captain of the team in 2022. Kaushik Gandhi and Shijit Chandran led the team in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively. In the ongoing TNPL edition (2025), Abishiek S is leading the side. Coming to the vice captain of the SKM Salem Spartans Team over the years, there is no information available on the internet.

SKM Salem Spartans Administration and Support Staff

Not just the players, there are people in the support staff and administration who help the team perform well. They helped the players in making plans, in their conditioning, and in all other important aspects needed. They have a bowling coach in R Lakshmi Narayanan. Along with the bowling coach, they have Saravanna Kumar S, Viganesh S, and Kannan K, who play the role of Physio, Fielding Coach, and Strength and Conditioning Coach, respectively. The team also has the services of Hari Krishnan, a Sports Therapist.

R Krishna is an essential member of the team and manager of cricket operations. He is in charge of managing all operational, administrative, and logistical facets of the team's operations. Ram Prakash is the head coach of the SKM Salem Spartans Team. He plays an important role in the SKM Salem Spartans players' team, giving them insights and sharing his own experience so that the players can execute the plans in the match.

Nowadays, the teams look for a video analyst who can share insights regarding the opposition players' weaknesses, strengths, and how to plan against a particular player. KC Ramasubramaniyam plays the role of Video Analyst in the SKM Salem Spartans team. Vairav Sudharshan and Perooru Rupesh are in charge of all of the Salem Spartans' medical care. The goal is to get players ready to play, with a focus on injury care, treatment, and rehabilitation.

SKM Salem Spartans Achievements and Records

SKM Salem Spartans team achievements are mostly from the initial few seasons of the TNPL, when they were recognized as the Tuti Patriots. They won the title in the inaugural season and ended up as runners-up in the 2017 season. Since 2018, the team has struggled to reach the playoffs of the TNPL. They will look to rectify themselves in the TNPL 2025 season. The team has started their TNPL 2025 campaign on a winning note, defeating Siechem Madurai Panthers (SMP) in their first game by 6 wickets.

SKM Salem Spartans Best Batsmen

Kaushik Gandhi is the SKM Salem Spartans best batsmen. He has performed really well for the SKM Salem Spartans team in TNPL history. Kaushik Gandhi has scored 1042 runs for the team in 32 games at an average of 38.59. His strike rate is 134.97 and has seven fifties and a hundred to his name. Gandhi’s highest score in the league is 111*.

There are a few other big names like Washington Sundar, Abhinav Mukund, Dinesh Karthik, and Vijay Shankar who have done well for the franchise. These are the big international stars who have featured for the Spartans over the years.

SKM Salem Spartans Best Bowlers

V Athisayaraj Davidson is one of the SKM Salem Spartans best bowlers over the years. He has taken 40 wickets in 24 games for the franchise at an average of 19.27. M Ganesh Moorthi is the next in line with 36 wickets in 50 games at an average of 31.80. He helped the team to win the final in 2016 against CSG, while playing for the Tuti Patriots (now known as Salem Spartans). Moorthi took 4 wickets for just 11 runs in his 4 overs in the TNPL 2016 final. His economy of 6.83 shows his ability to restrict runs. Washington Sundar is also one of the big names who has taken 26 wickets for the team in 18 games.

Salem Spartans Performances Over the Years (2016-present)

The Tuti Patriots won the title in the TNPL 2016. They played the final of the TNPL 2-17, but could not get over the line against CSG to win their 2nd title. Since then, they could not even reach the playoffs in the next six seasons. They finished at No. 5 in the TNPL 2018. In 2019, they finished at No. 6. Their performance was even worse in the TNPL 2021 and 2022 editions. They finished at No. 7 and 8, respectively, in those two editions. In the TNPL 2023 and 2024, there was no change as they again finished at No. 7 and 8 in the points table in those two editions, respectively.

SKM Salem Spartans Highest Total in TNPL History

The franchise’s highest total came when they were named Tuti Patriots in the 2016 season. They scored 215 in the final of the TNPL 2016 against Chepauk Super Gillies. They won the final by 122 runs after bundling CSG out for just 93 runs.

SKM Salem Spartans Lowest Total

The franchise’s lowest total came against the Trichy Grand Cholas (formerly known as Ruby Trichy Warriors) in the TNPL 2022 at Salem on July 21. They only managed to score 87 runs in 19.5 overs and lost the game. It was a rain-affected game, and Trichy won that game by 4 runs (DLS Method).

Salem Spartans' Biggest Win (In Terms of Runs)

The franchise’s biggest win came against Madurai in the TNPL 2017 on August 13 at the Dindigul ground. They won the game by 137 runs after scoring 197 runs in the first inning.

Salem Spartans' Biggest Win (In Terms of Wickets)

The franchise’s biggest win in terms of wickets came against Trichy in the TNPL 2017 at the Dindigul Ground on July 26. They chased down the target of 121 in just 15.3 overs with 10 wickets in hand. Washington Sundar scored an unbeaten 49 runs off 38 balls with 5 fours and a six. Kaushik Gandhi also remains unbeaten on 72 off 55 balls with 10 fours and a six.

Salem Spartans' Highest Total Conceded in TNPL

The Spartans have conceded 217 in an inning against Chepauk Super Gillies on June 13, 2023, at Coimbatore. Pradosh Ranjan Paul scored 88 off 55 balls with 12 fours and a six. N Jagadeesan, Baba Aparajith, and Sanjay Yadav have also played important cameos in that game for CSG. Spartans lost that game by 52 runs.

Lowest Total Against Salem Spartans in TNPL

The franchise conceded just 59 runs in an inning in the TNPL 2017 against Madurai. It is the lowest total they have conceded in TNPL history, as of now. Tuti Patriots, after scoring 196 in the first inning, bundled out Madurai for just 59 runs in 8.5 overs. They won the game by 137 runs. It is their biggest win in terms of runs in TNPL history.

SKM Salem Spartans Player to Watch Out for in TNPL 2025

1. S Abishiek

S Abishiek is the captain of the SKM Salem Spartans team this season. The onus will be on him to lead from the front. If he does well at the top order and gives his team some good starts, the pressure on the upcoming batters will be less.

2. S Ajith Ram

S Ajith Ram is a left-arm orthodox spinner who can control the game in the middle overs. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs and restrict runs at the same time makes him a valuable asset in the team. Nowadays, most of the T20 games are controlled in the middle phase of the innings. If Ajith Ram can take wickets at a regular interval in that period, the Salem Spartans can control the run flow of the opposition.

3. Sunny Sandhu

A 21-year-old youngster, Sunny Sandhu, is an all-rounder and gives a much-needed balance to the team. He can hit the ball hard and long, and can give an extra bowling option as well.

SKM Salem Spartans Key Rivalries

The SKM Salem Spartans team has had a history of some key rivalries with the other teams in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) over the years. They have played some interesting, nail-biting games against other teams like Lyca Kovai Kings (LKK), Nellai Royal Kings (NRK), and Chepauk Super Gillies (CSG). Let us now see the stats of SKM Salem Spartans Key Rivalries with other teams.
NOTE: The stats also include the 2016 season to 2019, when the team was known as Tuti Patriots.

1. Salem Spartans vs Chepauk Super Gillies

Salem Spartans and Chepauk Super Gillies have played some interesting games against each other over the years. The rivalry started in the first season of the TNPL (2016) when Salem Spartans (SS) defeated CSG to win their first-ever title. Next year, in 2017, CSG took their revenge and settled the scores after defeating SS in the final.
As of now, the two teams have played a total of 11 games against each other. CSG is just slightly ahead with 6 wins. The Salem Spartans have also managed to win 5 games against CSG. The two teams first met on August 24, 2016, at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium. SS won the game by 45 runs. Their last encounter was at the SNR College Cricket Ground on July 18, 2024. CSG won that game by 23 runs. The two teams will now lock horns against each other on June 19, 2025, at the SCF Cricket Ground, Salem.

2. Salem Spartans vs Nellai Royal Kings

Salem Spartans and Nellai Royal Kings have had some intense battles over the years in the TNPL. The two teams have played a total of 8 games against each other, as of now. Nellai has an edge over Spartans as they have won 5 games. SS has also managed to win 3 games and will look to go one step further in the TNPL 2025.
SS (Tuti Patriots ) and NRK first met in 2016. SS won the first encounter against NRK by 6 wickets. Their last encounter was on July 11, 202,4 at the Salem Cricket Foundation Ground. NRK won that game by 3 wickets, while chasing a target of 142. The two teams will now go head to head against each other on June 15, 202,5 at the SCF Cricket Ground, Salem.

3. Salem Spartans vs Lyca Kovai Kings

Nit much is there to separate these two teams. Salem Spartans and Lyca Kovai Kings have played 7 games against each other. LKK has just one more win than SS in a head to head. With 4 wins, LKK is slightly ahead of SS. The two teams first played on August 31, 2016, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, with LKK winning the game quite convincingly by 9 wickets. The last encounter between the two teams saw a nail-biting finish, with LKK winning the game by just one wicket while chasing a target of 172. SS will now face LKK in their last league stage game of the TNPL 2025 on June 28 at the NPR College Ground, Dindigul.

SKM Salem Spartans Team Owner and Sponsorships

The Salem Spartans team in the Tamil Nadu Premier League is owned by M. Selvakumar. He is a distributor of Vivo Chennai South. In the TNPL, the Salem Spartans' brand is worth the most: ₹5.21 crore. Earlier, Thoothukodi Sports and Private Entertainment Ltd used to own the franchise, with the name of Tuti Patriots. 

The Salem Spartans have built a strong lineup of sponsors this season. Dafa News India has come on board as the Title Sponsor, bringing both visibility and credibility, given their status as one of India’s most recognized sports news and engagement platforms. CricAdda News, an emerging name in cricket infotainment, has joined as an Associate Sponsor, aiming to enhance fan engagement throughout the TNPL season.

Adding more strength to the team’s sponsorship portfolio are Jones Foundation Pvt Ltd and Fosters India, both of whom have also come on board as Associate Sponsors. The Spartans’ jersey now proudly features additional sponsors like Freyer International and TAJ 777 News, showcasing the growing support and popularity surrounding the team.

SKM Salem Spartans Team Fan Following

The SKM Salem Spartans team has a massive fan following over the years. They enjoy a dedicated and passionate fan following in Tamil Nadu. Their supporters are known for their enthusiastic presence during matches, creating an electrifying atmosphere that enhances the overall experience of the tournament.

The team has actively engaged with fans through social media campaigns and fan meet-and-greet events. It helped them create a strong sense of community and loyalty. Also, the loyal Spartan fan base plays a crucial role in supporting the team's performance, often rallying behind the players both at home games and away matches. Overall, the Salem Spartans' fan following continues to grow, driven by the team's competitive spirit and the shared passion for cricket in the region.

SKM Salem Spartans Social Media

The Salem Spartans franchise has an official Instagram handle with the username: slaemspartanst20. As of June 2025, it has more than 19k followers, which is a very good number for a local state franchise team. It shows how popular a team is among the fans, especially in the local state. They continue to post about the scores, latest news, interactions, practice sessions, and any important updates that the fans need to know.

The team also has an X (formerly known as Twitter) account. They are not as active on X as on Instagram. Despite less activity, they have more than 2200+ followers on X, as of June 2025. The same is the case with their Facebook account; they have 2.1k followers, despite their last Facebook post being in May 2022.