Pondicherry U-19 Coach Brutally Attacked by Cricketers After SMAT Team Snub

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 has started, and its Super League matches will be played from December 12 onwards. But ahead of it, shocking news has come out. Under-19 head coach S. Venkataraman of Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP) was reportedly attacked by three local cricketers on Monday. It is reported that those players attacked him because they were not included in the team for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. An injured Venkataraman suffered a head injury and a broken shoulder in the attack.

S. Rajesh, sub-inspector at the Sedarpet police station, confirmed the registration of an FIR, saying, "Venkataraman received 20 stitches on his forehead, but he is stable. The attackers are absconding and we are searching for them. Further information will be provided in due course."

An investigation report published by The Indian Express on Tuesday revealed that the CAP administration was systematically denying Puducherry-born players adequate opportunities in domestic matches. The report detailed how "outside players" were being presented as "local" players by using fake educational certificates and Aadhaar addresses. Since 2021, only five local players have represented Puducherry in the Ranji Trophy. Reacting to the report, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia said, "Very serious allegations have been made in these reports, and the BCCI will investigate them soon."

Venkataraman, a former CAP secretary, named three local players in his complaint. Senior players who have played six matches include Karthikeyan Jayarasundaram, A. Aravindraj, and S. Santosh Kumaran, all former Ranji players. Venkataraman also accused G. Chandran, secretary of the Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers Forum, of instigating the players.

In his complaint, Venkataraman wrote, "On December 8, 2025, at around 11 a.m., I was in the indoor nets at the CAP campus when Karthikeyan, Arvindraj, and Santosh Kumaran came and started abusing me. They were saying that I was responsible for their non-selection in the SMAT team. Arvindraj grabbed me, and Karthikeyan attacked me with the bat in Santosh Kumaran's hand, intending to hit me. They were saying that Chandran had told them to hit me only if they would get a chance."

The Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers Forum rejected the allegations against Chandran. Forum President Senthil Kumaran said, "Several cases have been filed against Venkataraman in the past. He often misbehaves with local players and uses abusive language. His personal resentment towards Chandran has been a source of controversy, as we have been raising several issues related to CAP with the BCCI over the past seven years." CAP declined to comment on the incident.