Anantha Padmanabhan Debuts as ICC Umpire After Four Decades in Cricket

Anantha Padmanabhan, a former first-class leg-spinner from Kerala, has made his ICC umpiring debut after nearly 40 years in cricket. Promoted to the ICC international panel in 2020, he credits acceptance and patience for his journey. Padmanabhan highlights India's strong umpiring infrastructure, supported by the BCCI, which offers extensive domestic opportunities including TV umpiring and DRS. His playing experience as a bowler has aided his transition to umpiring, despite the physical demands of the role.