Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has been elected as the new President of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) following a historic election held on December 7, 2025. Prasad, who led the ‘Team Game Changers’ panel, won decisively against K.N. Shanth Kumar by 191 votes, securing 749 votes to Shanth Kumar’s 558. Alongside him, former India cricketer Sujith Somasundar has been elected Vice-President, and Santosh Menon reclaimed his post as Secretary after previously serving from 2019 to 2022.
Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has a long and distinguished career in Indian cricket, playing 33 Tests and 161 One-Day Internationals for India. Before this presidential win, he also served as KSCA vice president from 2010 to 2013. His election is seen as a major change in Karnataka cricket administration, with a focus on restoring international cricket and IPL fixtures to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has not hosted major matches since a tragic stampede earlier this year.
The KSCA elections were initially scheduled for November 30 but were postponed, prompting concerns among candidates and cricket enthusiasts. Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad expressed his disappointment about the delay at the time, emphasizing that the elections should prioritize cricket over politics. “Our sole objective is to revive top-level cricket at Chinnaswamy Stadium and bring back international matches and IPL fixtures. That is our mission,” he said during a press briefing.
In addition to Prasad’s win, his team secured key office-bearer positions. Sujith Somasundar won the Vice-President post with 719 votes against 588, while Santosh Menon won the Secretary position with 675 votes over 632. BN Madhukar was elected Treasurer with 736 votes, defeating MS Vinay. The only office-bearer from the rival Brijesh Patel camp to win was former umpire BK Ravi, who became Joint Secretary with 669 votes.
Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad and his team celebrated their success after a keenly contested election. The turnout for the election was 1,307 voters, with notable figures such as former Indian captains Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid, as well as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, casting their votes. Prasad’s victory represents a significant mandate for his vision of improving cricket infrastructure and returning top-level matches to Bengaluru.
The new KSCA President, Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, highlighted his immediate focus on restoring the reputation and functionality of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. He stressed that the election was a win for cricket enthusiasts and the broader community of stakeholders who want to see international cricket return to Bengaluru. Prasad stated, “This is a victory for all the members who wanted a change and for cricket fans who want to see international cricket and IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium once again.”
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar supported the Prasad-led vision, assuring that IPL matches would not be relocated from Bengaluru. He emphasized that this issue concerns the pride of Karnataka and the city, noting, “We will ensure IPL matches are held here and work to prevent future incidents at the stadium.”
Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad’s panel, Team Game Changers, focused on proactive measures to address stadium safety and enhance cricket facilities across Karnataka. In addition to Chinnaswamy Stadium, the team aims to develop cricket infrastructure in other zones, including Mysore, Shivamogga, Tumkur, Dharwad, Raichur, and Mangalore. Each zone has elected representatives to ensure grassroots-level development and broader participation in Karnataka cricket.
Other KSCA office-bearer election results :
| Position | Name | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| President | Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad | 749 |
| Vice-President | Sujith Somasundar | 719 |
| Secretary | Santosh Menon | 675 |
| Joint Secretary | BK Ravi | 669 |
| Treasurer | BN Madhukar | 736 |
| Life Member | VM Manjunath | 690 |
| Life Member | Sailesh Poll | 618 |
| Bangalore Zone | Kalpana Venkatachar | 764 |
| Bangalore Zone | Aashish Amarlall | 703 |
| Bangalore Zone | Avinash Vaidya | 691 |
| Mysore Zone | Srinivas Prasad | 746 |
| Shivamogga Zone | DS Arun | 722 |
| Tumkur Zone | CR Harish | 734 |
| Dharwad Zone | Veeranna Savadi | 825 |
| Raichur Zone | Kushal Patil | 704 |
| Mangalore Zone | Shekhar Shetty | Unopposed |
The victory of Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad is seen as a turning point for Karnataka cricket. With a clear mandate, Prasad plans to implement initiatives to enhance cricketing infrastructure, bring back international matches, and ensure safety and quality for players and fans alike.
FAQs
Q1: Who is the new KSCA president?
Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad has been elected as the KSCA president.
Q2: What was Venkatesh Prasad’s cricketing career?
He played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for India and served as KSCA vice president from 2010 to 2013.
Q3: Who else was elected in the KSCA elections?
Sujith Somasundar (Vice-President), Santosh Menon (Secretary), BK Ravi (Joint Secretary), and BN Madhukar (Treasurer) were elected.
Q4: What is the focus of Prasad’s administration?
Prasad aims to revive international cricket and IPL matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and improve cricket infrastructure across Karnataka.
Q5: What is Team Game Changers?
Team Game Changers is the panel led by Former Indian Cricketer Venkatesh Prasad that won most key positions in the KSCA elections.