- June 11, 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin is always in the news, whether due to his chess-like bowling or for his instinctual takes on the grey areas of cricket. But in a recent Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2025 game between Dindigul Dragons and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, this veteran off-spinner was in the news for the wrong reasons. After a controversial LBW decision, he displayed a chic, violent response, which tempted the match referee to impose a charge of a 30% match fee. It raised eyebrows and threw up a lot of talking points among cricket fans: was it passion, pressure, or just simply poor behavior?
A Moment of Madness: What Happened?
Everything changed in the fifth over—that’s when Dindigul’s story took a twist. Ashwin was looking well set on 18 off 11 balls and was primed for a big score. Tried to get cheeky with a lap shot against Sai Kishore, missed it completely, got rapped on the pads—and after thinking it over, the umpire sent him on his way. Ashwin had visibly disagreed. It was not the sort of reaction expected of the normally calm Ashwin; he argued with the umpire, whacked his pad with his bat, and threw a glove off as he walked back.
After the match, Ashwin was taken into a hearing with the match referee, and he was fined 10% of his match fee for “dissent” and a further 20% for “misuse of equipment”. It’s to his credit that he accepted the penalty without any dispute, but the damage, at least from an image point of view, was done.
Where Do You Draw the Line Between Passion and Poor Conduct?
I get it, cricket is an emotional game. Anyone who has played at any level will tell you how frustrating it can be to sometimes get the wrong decision. But Ashwin is not just any player – he is a former India international, the captain of the Dragons, and a figurehead in the TNPL. When he blows up, it sends a message – no matter if it’s intended.
Naturally, some of the fans have sympathy for him, and they blame the inconsistent umpiring and the fact that he is caught up in the heat of the moment. Other fans argue that Ashwin’s professionalism is more important, especially in a league that is supposed to be a platform for emerging young talent. If senior players are unable to control their emotions, what standard are they setting for the players coming through the ranks?
A Tough Day for Dindigul Dragons
The drama surrounding the game didn’t do Dindigul any favors. Having started brightly at 39/0, Dindigul collapsed and were bowled out for 93 in 16.2 overs. When Ashwin was dismissed, it felt like it was a total batting collapse. Tiruppur’s Tushar Raheja made them pay with a quick-fire 65 off just 39 balls. He and his teammates easily chased down the total of 93 to win by 9 wickets, with nearly 8 overs remaining.
One win, one loss—that’s left the Dragons hanging around the middle of the table for now. The early signs are not good for the team, both in batting, but it’s apparent in their body language and leadership on the field. Can Ashwin find a way to turn it around? Or has this meltdown affected their campaign already?
Ashwin’s explosion of emotion was sensational, organic, and entirely unexpected—but it was also a reminder that even the sharpest cricket brains can have bad days. Passion is good and desirable, but there are degrees of passion and action, and we often fall into the level of excessive passion and undisciplined behaviour.
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