Ravichandran Ashwin and his TNPL side, Dindigul Dragons, have been acquitted of ball-tampering allegations levelled by Siechem Madurai Panthers. The complaint was regarding the employment of chemically treated towels in their match on June 14, 2025, in Salem.
Shijit Chandran, Madurai’s coach lodged a complaint, which stated:
“The ball's condition deteriorated rapidly during our innings, affecting our batsmen's performance. You can hear the sound of every shot our batters played after the powerplay, which were as if they were hitting hard stone instead of a cricket ball.”
The complaint, originally sent to Pooja Damodaran, the CEO of, Madurai’s CEO, which was forwarded to TNPL included:
“We are of the view that the Dindigul Dragons team used foreign substances to alter the ball's condition, including using special towels with a pre-applied roughening agent, which is unacceptable and against the spirit of the game, and amounts to cheating.”
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Complaint Rejected Due to Delay
To make it clear about the claim being false, TNPL CEO Prasanna Kannan stated:
“The towels in question were TNCA-issued and equally available to both teams. The Playing Control Team, including umpires and the match referee, maintained full oversight of the ball throughout the match. No concerns were raised during play, and no verifiable evidence has been provided. The claims appear speculative and post-facto in nature.”
TNPL CEO Prasanna Kannan stated that Madurai's complaint had not been filed on time. It was filed over 24 hours after the match and was not addressed to the honorary secretary of the TNCA, making it null as per the rules.
But for the sake of fairness and transparency, the TNPL still referred the issue to the honorary secretary and Dindigul Dragons for examination.
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Madurai Asked to Submit Proof
The Madurai Panthers are now given until June 17, 2025, at 3 PM to file clear proof, such as videos, images, or witness statements. Failure to do so may invite the involvement of TNCA's code of conduct and operating guidelines.
Dindigul Dominated the Match
In the match being questioned, Dindigul Dragons chased down Madurai’s 151-run target in less than 13 overs. Ashwin scored 49 runs off 29 balls, while Shivam Singh remained unbeaten on 86 from 41 balls. The defending champions picked up their second win of 2025, proving their strong form again.
