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Puducherry Cricket Assault: Coach Brutally Attacked Over Team Selection

A shocking incident of violence has rocked Puducherry cricket. The Under-19 head coach was brutally assaulted by players allegedly angry over team selection. The attack left the coach with serious injuries, including a head wound needing many stitches. Police are now searching for the three cricketers named in the complaint.

Key Points: Puducherry U19 Coach Assaulted by Cricketers Over SMAT Omission

  • Coach S Venkataraman suffered a head injury requiring 20 stitches and a fractured shoulder
  • Three named local cricketers are currently absconding from police
  • The assault allegedly occurred inside the CAP complex's indoor nets
  • The coach's complaint claims a forum secretary instigated the violent attack
2 min read

Angry over omission from SMAT squad, Puducherry cricketers brutally assault U19 head coach: Report

CAP U19 head coach S Venkataraman was brutally assaulted by three local players angry over their non-selection for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad.

"They hit me, saying Chandran had told them that they would get a chance only if they killed me. - S Venkataraman, Coach"

New Delhi, Dec 10

The Under-19 head coach of the Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP), S Venkataraman, was allegedly assaulted by three local cricketers who were angry over their non-selection for the team in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The attack, which occurred around 11 am inside the indoor nets at the CAP complex, resulted in Venkataraman suffering a head injury that required 20 stitches and a fractured shoulder, according to an Indian Express report.

Confirming the incident, Sub-Inspector S Rajesh said, "Venkataraman received 20 stitches on his forehead, but he is stable. The said players are absconding, and we are trying to track them. Further details will be revealed in due course."

An FIR has been lodged at Sedarapet police station. In his complaint, Venkataraman named three local players: senior cricketer Karthikeyan Jayasundaram and first-class players A. Aravinddaraj and S. Santhosh Kumaran, as the assailants. He also claimed that G. Chandran, secretary of the Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers' Forum, instigated the trio.

According to the report, Venkataraman said in his complaint, "Around 11 am on December 8, 2025, I was in the indoor nets inside the CAP complex before Pondicherry senior cricketers Karthikeyan, Aravinddaraj and Santhosh Kumaran came and began to abuse me, insisting that I was the reason for their non-selection in the SMAT (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) squad.

"While Aravinddaraj held me, Karthikeyan took the bat that Santhosh Kumaran had and attacked me with the intention of killing me. They hit me, saying Chandran had told them that they would get a chance only if they killed me."

The Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers' Forum's Senthil Kumaran, however, denied the allegations against Chandran, saying, "Venkataraman has a documented history of several cases against him. He has often been known to behave rudely with local cricketers, using obscene language. His grudge against Chandran is also well-known, considering that we have repeatedly raised several issues within the CAP to the BCCI over the last seven years.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the assault is completely unacceptable, the report from the Cricketers' Forum raises some questions. If the coach has a history of being rude and using obscene language with players, that's also a serious issue. BCCI needs to investigate the entire environment in Pondicherry cricket. Both sides need to be heard.
R
Rohit P
Yaar, this is so sad. These are first-class players! Instead of working harder on their game, they pick up a bat to attack? Their careers are over now. What a waste of talent and a terrible example for younger players. Hope the police catch them soon.
A
Aman W
The most chilling part is the alleged instigation. "You'll get a chance only if you killed me"? If true, this Chandran person is the real villain here, manipulating young players' frustrations. This goes beyond a heated argument; it sounds pre-meditated.
S
Sarah B
Head injury with 20 stitches and a fractured shoulder... that's attempted murder, not just assault. The BCCI must step in immediately. State associations need better grievance redressal systems so players don't feel this level of desperation.
K
Karthik V
This is a black day for Indian cricket. We talk about sportsmanship and spirit of the game, and then this happens in our own backyard. Feel so bad for the coach and his family. Wishing him a speedy recovery. The players involved should face the full force of the law.

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