Seventeen years ago, Tanmay Srivastava and Ajitesh Argal played cricket with Virat Kohli in India’s Under-19 World Cup team. That team won the World Cup in 2008 in Kuala Lumpur. Now, they have met again, but this time as umpires in an international game. Srivastava is 35 years old, and Argal is 37.
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During the Under-19 World Cup, Argal was a medium pace bowler who played very well in the final against South Africa. He was named the player of the final. Srivastava was a left-handed batsman who scored 262 runs in the tournament. Kohli is still playing, especially focusing on India’s One Day International matches in Australia.
Srivastava and Argal are now umpires for the matches between India A and Australia A played in Kanpur. Srivastava had already worked as an umpire in the last Indian Premier League. He also worked before as a talent scout for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team.
Both players took the BCCI umpiring exam in 2023 and passed. They have officiated in many domestic cricket tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Australia A series is their biggest assignment so far. Argal played only 10 first-class games during his cricket career. Srivastava played for many years in the Uttar Pradesh team and played 90 first-class matches but never made it to the Indian national team.
Umpiring in domestic cricket in India has been difficult. Only one umpire, Nitin Menon, is in the ICC’s Elite Panel of umpires. Both Argal and Srivastava want to do well in umpiring and hope to join the ICC Emirates Panel and later the Elite Panel.
Argal said Srivastava encouraged him to become an umpire by telling him about the BCCI umpiring test. Being an umpire needs good knowledge of cricket’s laws and good fitness as it requires standing and concentrating for a long time. Both are working hard to keep fit and prepared.