Puducherry Coach ASSAULTED By His Players Over Non-Selection In SMAT

In what comes as shocking news, Puducherry Under-19 coach P Venkataraman was assaulted by three local players as they were unhappy with being left out of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) squad. The coach is believed to have suffered a head injury and a shoulder fracture as a result. 

An FIR has been filed at the Sedarpet police station. S Rajesh of the Sedarapet police station 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.”

Karthikeyan Jayasundaram, A Aravinddaraj and S Santhosh Kumaran, who have played multiple matches across formats for Puducherry, have been named in the complaint for the attack that took place on December 8 (Monday). Venkataraman also named Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers’ Forum Secretary, G Chandran, for instigating the attack.

“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,” Venkataraman said in his complaint.

The Cricket Association of Puducherry (CAP) have not issued any statement about the incident.