Appreciate Indian Cricket Umpires – It’s high time we give due respect to Indian cricket umpires and acknowledge their efforts on the field. The last time an Indian umpire was part of the ICC’s elite panel, India had just completed a historic tour of Pakistan, Sourav Ganguly was leading the national team, and a young Virat Kohli was still a school-going teenager in Delhi. Over the past 11 years, the cricketing landscape has evolved significantly, yet there remains a glaring absence of Indian representation among the world’s top umpires since the departure of former World Cup captain Srinivas Venkatraghavan from the elite panel in 2004.
The ICC Elite Panel, established in 2002, has only seen one Indian member—Venkatraghavan, who served between 2002 and 2004. The current panel continues to lack Indian representation, instead featuring umpires from England, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Even the West Indies have had more umpires in the elite panel, with figures like Steve Bucknor and Billy Doctrove.
Appreciate Indian Cricket Umpires
While not being on the panel doesn’t necessarily imply a lack of skill, being included is a strong indicator of an umpire’s standing among the world’s best. So, the question arises: are Indian umpires really not among the best globally?
Since 2004, India has achieved almost everything possible on the cricket field, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) increasing its influence, power, and wealth. However, one area where Indian cricket has not seen significant growth—or may have even regressed—is in the quality and perception of its umpires.
Even within India, many cricketers have a lukewarm opinion of their country’s umpires. This is a sentiment acknowledged by Simon Taufel, the Australian umpire who has been mentoring and advising the BCCI’s elite umpires. Taufel emphasized the need for players to understand and respect the complexities of umpiring.
“We would love for players to appreciate how difficult our job is and recognize that even the best umpires are still human and make mistakes,” Taufel told ESPNcricinfo. “It would be fantastic to see respected figures like Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar try their hand at umpiring. It’s a tough job, and understanding it firsthand could foster greater respect.”
Imagine how challenging it would be for MS Dhoni to criticize a decision made by legends like Tendulkar or Dravid, compared to his reaction to English umpire Richard Illingworth’s controversial call against Chennai’s Dwayne Smith, which Dhoni lamented publicly.
Indian umpires in the IPL have also faced their share of challenges. Despite increasing their participation in the tournament over the years, they still encounter scrutiny. When Taufel joined the IPL in its second season (2009), no Indian umpires were involved in the playoffs. Fast forward six years, and 17 out of 26 match officials in the tournament were Indians—a sign of progress, but the question remains whether this progress will translate to international recognition.
One promising example is S. Ravi, who recently officiated an England vs. Sri Lanka match at Lord’s. Ravi’s decisions, including a crucial call that was later validated by technology, earned him quiet praise from knowledgeable observers. Although umpires are rarely celebrated for getting decisions right, Ravi’s performance is a testament to the potential Indian umpires possess.
Ravi’s success illustrates that India has the talent, but what’s needed is further refinement. This is where mentors like Taufel, a five-time ICC Umpire of the Year, play a crucial role.
In the end, while players dominate on the field, the true masters of the game are often those who make the critical decisions—those who determine who’s in and who’s out. It’s time to recognize the invaluable contributions of Indian umpires and support their journey to achieving global recognition.