R Ashwin’s rare on-field meltdown in TNPL match goes viral for wrong reasons

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin found himself at the centre of controversy during a Tamil Nadu Premier League match between Dindigul Dragons and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhians, following a heated on-field outburst after his contentious dismissal.

Ashwin, captaining the Dindigul Dragons, opened the innings and looked in sublime touch from the outset. He raced to 18 off just 10 deliveries, peppering the boundary with two fours and a six. However, his promising start was abruptly cut short in the fifth over when he was adjudged leg-before-wicket (LBW) by umpire Venkatesan Krithika to a delivery from left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore.

Attempting a paddle sweep, Ashwin was struck on the pads while trying to steal a quick single. Much to his disbelief, the umpire upheld the appeal. Replays clearly showed that the ball had pitched outside the leg stump, which would typically render the LBW decision invalid under cricket’s laws. Unfortunately for Ashwin, both he and his opening partner Shivam Singh (30 off 27) had exhausted their team`s quota of DRS referrals in the very first over, wasted on marginal leg-side wides due to a newly introduced TNPL rule allowing reviews for wides and no-balls.

With no reviews left to challenge the decision, Ashwin had no choice but to walk back to the pavilion. Visibly fuming, the seasoned campaigner was seen animatedly questioning the umpire as the two crossed paths. While Krithika initially ignored Ashwin’s inquiries, she eventually turned around to offer a brief justification.

Ravichandran Ashwin got angry on Umpire, throws his gloves towards the spectators in Domestic League called TNPL 🧐

~ What`s your take on this 🤔 pic.twitter.com/5Dbk9AiSle

— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) June 9, 2025

Ashwin’s reaction was one of sheer frustration and disbelief. As he approached the boundary, he struck his bat against his pads in anger, then flung his gloves in disgust near the team dugout. His conduct reflected a rare lapse in composure from a player celebrated for his cricketing acumen and competitive spirit.

To make matters worse for the Dindigul Dragons, the team went on to suffer a crushing nine-wicket defeat, compounding the emotional fallout from Ashwin’s controversial dismissal.

While Ashwin’s frustration was arguably justified given the questionable decision, his visible outburst drew criticism from several quarters for being unbecoming of a senior player and national icon. The Tamil Nadu Premier League authorities have yet to announce any disciplinary action, but all eyes are now on match referee Arjan Kripal Singh’s report, which will determine whether the off-spinner faces sanctions.

This article first appeared on Mid Day