Former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad officially announced that he will contest for the president’s post in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections, set to take place on November 30. His decision has received strong support from former Indian cricketers Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, who had earlier worked with him during their term in KSCA administration from 2010 to 2013.
Prasad decided to run for the position after Karnataka cricket faced major challenges, with the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium losing its reputation due to administrative lapses and the tragic June 4 stampede that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory parade. The tragedy led to the stadium being banned from hosting international matches, creating tension between the KSCA and the state government over safety and compliance issues.
To bring Karnataka cricket back on track, Prasad has constituted a group of “Team Game Chargers” that includes Sujith Somasundar (Vice President), Vinay Mruthyunjaya (Secretary), and A.V. Shashidhar (Joint Secretary) and B. N. Madhukar (treasurer). The team aims to revive the state’s cricketing system and the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s legacy.
“We need to get cricket back to Chinnaswamy Stadium. An administration free of back-seat driving.” Prasad said at the press conference.
Prasad also noted the need for a women’s cricket academy and improved pathways for young cricketers, pointing out the absence of Karnataka representation in India’s recent Women’s World Cup-winning side. Anil Kumble, who was present at the ceremony, hailed Prasad for his leadership.
“Karnataka cricket has been suffering and Venky is here to make a difference. All the work we had put in during our three-year tenure [2010-2013] has been undone over the past many years. The most common question we get asked is ‘when are you returning?’ Two key stakeholders have been neglected: cricketers and fans. Last week we won the Women’s World Cup, and it was a landmark occasion. But we [Karnataka] didn’t have a single representation. That needs to change.”
Anil Kumble
He also opened up at the stampede event, a dark mark on Karnataka cricket, and called for a renewed effort to restore Chinnaswamy’s reputation as a temple of cricket. Both Kumble and Srinath believe that Prasad’s cricket-first mindset makes him the best choice for the post.
Pitted against Prasad in the race for the top post will be K.N. Shanth Kumar, who has the backing of former KSCA chief Brijesh Patel. The elections are expected to be tightly contested, with nominations open until November 16.
