TNPL has been steady for 10 years and will continue to grow: Palani Gurusamy, Madurai Panthers co-owner
Palani Gurusamy, a Detroit-based engineer, has become a co-owner of the Madurai Panthers franchise in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). He expressed confidence in the league's long-term stability and potential for growth, citing the success of the IPL as a driver for global interest in Indian cricket.
Why it matters
The investment reflects the growing commercialization and international interest in regional Indian sports leagues as viable business assets.
Palani Gurusamy, the 52-year-old Detroit-based computer engineer and Leeds United stakeholder who recently became co-owner of TNPL franchise Madurai Panthers, believes the league’s decade-long journey has laid a strong foundation for sustained growth, while insisting his investment was driven by passion for the sport rather than immediate financial returns.
Originally from Kovilpatti near Madurai, Palani said the opportunity to acquire the franchise was a natural fit. “I got to know about Madurai’s availability. My hometown is near Madurai. So, it suited me,” he said on the sidelines of his franchise’s jersey launch event here on Saturday.
He argued that the TNPL’s longevity distinguishes it from other State leagues. “TNPL has been there for 10 years. TNCA laid the foundation very well, and now it’s been very steady. We are confident that this league is going to get stronger and stronger in the coming years,” he said.
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