(Video) Ravichandran Ashwin Lashes Out at Female Umpire as Major Controversy Takes TNPL by Storm

Ravichandran Ashwin angrily confronted a female umpire over an LBW decision during a Tamil Nadu Premier League match.

(Video) Ravichandran Ashwin Lashes Out at Female Umpire as Major Controversy Takes TNPL by Storm

R. Ashwin lashed out at an on-field female umpire, during a recent TNPL match. (via screengrab X)

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin found himself at the center of controversy, after he lost his cool during a Tamil Nadu Premier League encounter between Dindigul Dragons and Tiruppur Tamizhans. The 38-year-old angrily lashed out at a female on-field umpire over an LBW decision.

R. Ashwin came off the back of a rough 2025 IPL season with Chennai Super Kings, despite having returned to the franchise after eight years. Having already announced his retirement from international cricket, Ashwin has returned to play for Dindigul Dragons in the 2025 TNPL season. Batting first against IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, Ashwin’s reaction to his dismissal has landed him in troubled waters.

Coming out to open the batting for his side, Ashwin was dismissed off a brilliant delivery by Tiruppur skipper R. Sai Kishore, at a paltry individual score of just 18 runs off 11 balls, in the fifth over of the match. Ashwin had missed a paddle sweep, with the ball instead going on to hit his pads. Umpire Krithika Venkatesan straightaway raised her finger to deem it as LBW, much to the surprise of the India legend.

The former Indian spinner was not pleased by the on-field decision, and immediately charged towards the umpire to argue about its validity. Videos of the incident showed Ashwin lashing out at umpire Krithika Venkatesan. He cut out an increasingly frustrated figure when the umpire, unfazed, ignored his protests and walked past him. A livid Ashwin, then decided to storm back to the pavilion angrily.

The CSK star was later caught, striking his pads hard with his bat. While making his way into the dugout, he also threw his gloves towards the seats in agony, and even made a few angry gestures towards the two on-field umpires. Subsequent replays showed that the ball had actually pitched outside the leg-stump and sharply turned into Ashwin’s pads, which came in line of the stumps.

In such a scenario, it should not have resulted in an LBW decision, thereby underscoring a significant error on the umpire’s part. However, the ex-Indian all-rounder could not review the decision, as his team had no remaining DRS reviews. He had already exhausted both of the team’s available reviews on wide-ball calls, leading the Dindigul skipper with no avenue to challenge the decision.

This isn’t the first time the veteran cricketer has been embroiled in a controversy in the TNPL. Last season, he grabbed headlines for reportedly yelling at two Dindigul Dragons batters for disregarding his instructions. Ashwin also faced criticism for ‘unsportsmanlike’ conduct in the IPL, specifically for ‘mankading’ of Rajasthan Royals’ batter Jos Buttler while playing for Punjab Kings, in March 2019. 

Meanwhile, coming back to the ongoing TNPL season, Ashwin’s wicket against Tiruppur Tamizhans was followed by a Dindigul Dragons batting order collapse. They were eventually bowled out for a meager first innings total of 93 runs in 16.2 overs. 

R. Ashwin-led Dindigul Dragons stunned by IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans in humiliating TNPL defeat

Defending TNPL champions Dindigul Dragons suffered their first defeat of the 2025 season, as they were humiliated by IDream Tiruppur Warriors at the SNR College Cricket Ground in Coimbatore. R. Ashwin-led Dindigul suffered a nine-wicket loss to their rivals, in a low-scoring encounter. 

R. Ashwin Dindigul vs. Tiruppur
R. Ashwin-led Dindigul suffered a humiliating defeat to Tiruppur by nine wickets. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

Batting first, Dindigul were bowled out for a total of just 93 runs. Skipper R. Ashwin, Shivam Singh and RK Jayant were the only batters who managed to edge past the 10-run mark, while Esakkimuthu A. and M. Mathivannan claimed seven wickets for Tiruppur. In a seemingly easy chase, Tiruppur reached the target in just 11.5 overs, thanks to Tushar Raheja‘s 65-run knocks off 39 balls. 

Both TNPL teams currently share same points this season, with one win and one loss from their two matches played. Dindigul is set to play Madurai Panthers next, while Tiruppur’s upcoming match is against Salem Spartans.