Krithika Venkatesan is an Indian umpire who is at the center of the storm after dismissing veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, find out more below
The incident took place in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) during a match between Dindigul Dragons and Tiruppur Tamizhans.
Who is Venkatesan Krithika, woman umpire whose argument video with Ravichandran Ashwin during TNPL 2025 match has gone viral
Turns out, Ashwin exhausted both the reviews for wides in the first 4 overs. When he was given out by Umpire, argues with a woman umpire, shouts at her, tries to mansplain her and eventually shows his stupid anger.
Kudos to Krithika ma'am for standing strong up to that Idiot. https://t.co/D63JGWR4Gm
— Prakash (@Prakash1049) June 8, 2025
Venkatesan Krithika stood firm despite Ashwin’s visible frustration and heated protest.
Venkatesan Krithika dismisses Ravichandran Ashwin
A shocking incident took place during the TNPL 2025 clash between Dindigul Dragons and IDream Tiruppur Tamizhians when Ravichandran Ashwin got dismissed by umpire Venkatesan Krithika. Dragons captain Ashwin was opening the innings and looked in excellent touch after scoring 18 runs off 10 deliveries. However, during the fifth over, left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore managed to trap him in front with a ball.
Ravichandran Ashwin got angry on Umpire, throws his gloves towards the spectators in Domestic League called TNPL 🧐
~ What's your take on this 🤔 pic.twitter.com/5Dbk9AiSle
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) June 9, 2025
In response, on-field umpire Krithika raised her finger to the bowler’s appeal and replays later revealed that the ball had pitched outside the leg stump. As such, it was a poor decision under standard LBW rules, however, Ashwin had no recourse. This is because the new TNPL rule limits each team’s referrals, and both Ashwin and his partner had previously exhausted them in the first over.
Unsurprisingly, Ashwin was furious and confronted Krithika as they crossed paths, demanding an explanation. However, Venkatesan initially ignored the outburst before later turning to briefly defend her decision. Ashwin exited in frustration, slamming his bat against his pads, and flinging his gloves in anger. The authorities seemingly fined Ravichandran Ashwin 30% of his match fees.
Ashwin was controlling himself just because the umpire was a female 😭🙏pic.twitter.com/3XM6WAMPgy
— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) June 9, 2025
Krithika Venkatesan bio
Venkatesan Krithika is one of the few female umpires who is currently making strides in Indian cricket. While her exact date of birth is not publicly documented, Krithika is likely in her 30s. She is known for her composure and fairness, and has gradually risen through the ranks by officiating at various levels of domestic cricket. Venkatesan generally prefers to keep a low profile off the field.
Career
Venkatesan Krithika started out her umpiring journey after completing her certification from the BCCI-accredited umpiring programs. Over the years, she has officiated in men’s and women’s domestic matches, and her recent stint in TNPL 2025 has further helped her gain wider recognition. Following the Ashwin’s recent dismissal, Venkatesan has gained respect for her ability to handle scrutiny and make split-second decisions.