Veteran Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin lost his composure during a Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2025 match on Sunday, as a contentious LBW decision sparked a heated exchange with the on-field umpire.
Ashwin, captaining the Dindigul Dragons, lost the toss to Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, skipper of the Dream Tiruppur Tamizhans. The seasoned all-rounder, who boasts six Test centuries for India, surprisingly chose to open the batting for his side. However, his innings was short-lived, as he was dismissed by his opposite number, Sai Kishore, for just 18 runs.
The incident unfolded in the fifth over, when a delivery from Sai Kishore struck Ashwin on the pads. The umpire promptly raised her finger, ruling the veteran batter out LBW. Ashwin, visibly unhappy, believed the ball had pitched outside the leg stump and approached the umpire to argue his case. After a brief exchange, he reluctantly made his way back to the pavilion, striking his pad in frustration on the way.
The decision marked a turning point, as the Dindigul Dragons crumbled to just 93 all out in 16.2 overs, with Tiruppur’s bowlers delivering an exceptional performance. In reply, Tushar Raheja’s unbeaten 65 ensured a smooth chase, as Tiruppur sealed a comprehensive nine-wicket win with 49 balls to spare.
The controversy comes at a difficult time for Ashwin, who also endured a disappointing IPL 2025 season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) — managing just seven wickets in nine matches and contributing only 33 runs with the bat.
