Cricket was the only thread holding Kanibalan’s life together when the world around him fell apart. During the pandemic, the 27-year-old delivered groceries for Swiggy and Zepto after his cricketing ambitions stalled. But his passion never dimmed.
Now, he’s been picked up by Tiruppur Tamizhans for TNPL Season 9 — a breakthrough years in the making.
Raised in the narrow lanes of Tiruvottriyur, with early cricket played on streets in Tirunelveli, Kanibalan had to hide his love for the game from strict parents. Formal coaching was short-lived due to financial constraints, but it lit a fire. He turned to YouTube, learning the game one video at a time, and later took up coaching to support himself — often unpaid, always determined.
An unexpected twist pushed him into wicketkeeping with just 10 days to prepare for trials. He practised with relentless energy, catching 400–500 balls daily — and made the cut.
Despite a strong showing in early trials, self-doubt and missed paperwork cost him early TNPL chances. Undeterred, he hustled through fourth-division matches, scored crucial fifties, and built an online community of over 60,000 followers by posting cricket tutorials.
Kanibalan now runs his own academy with 150 students and eight coaches. Though he hasn’t debuted in TNPL yet, he’s learning from veterans like R. Sai Kishore and T. Natarajan — lessons he’s eager to pass on.
His story is not just about talent — it’s about grit, hustle, and heart.