New Delhi, February 9 Anantha Padmanabhan, who previously played as a bowler, naturally inclined towards making decisions against batters when he transitioned into umpiring, continuing a partnership that has lasted for 40 years.
The 57-year-old Padmanabhan, a former leg-spinner from Kerala, is now a distinguished umpire associated with the BCCI and ICC. What sets his story apart is that he is making his debut with the ICC as an umpire after four decades of involvement in the sport.
For someone whose journey emphasizes patience, Padmanabhan believes that acceptance is key to success.
"My journey in cricket is almost 40 years. From the age of 15, I've been playing, starting with the Under-19 level. From 18, I've been playing First-Class cricket, so I played about 105 First-Class matches," Padmanabhan told BCCI TV on Monday.
Promoted to the ICC's international panel of umpires in 2020, he has extensive experience in domestic cricket, including the IPL, and made his ICC debut during the ongoing T20 World Cup.
He opened up about his incredible journey and transition to umpiring, stating that India is the best place for those looking to make a career in umpiring, thanks to the excellent infrastructure provided by the BCCI.
"The BCCI, or India, has the most umpires and the most domestic matches happening worldwide. We have about 180 First-Class umpires, and over 2000 matches take place annually for the BCCI. This is a significant number.
"So, to get an opportunity, you need a lot of luck as well. We need to work hard. And the infrastructure that has been provided to us, even in domestic matches, whether it's TV umpiring… because TV umpiring is also very important these days, and we cover even that with DRS. So, we get a lot of opportunities from the BCCI."
He was promoted to the ICC international panel of umpires after Nitin Menon moved to the apex body's Elite Panel.
Standing in the sun for four days is a challenging task, but Padmanabhan said that his experience as a bowler in his playing days greatly helped him when he transitioned to umpiring.
"Umpiring, although it initially seemed tougher because we had to constantly count the balls, do the hard work, and stay in the sun for four days.
"I felt that it was much easier for me because I could relate, as I was a bowler, and I had to bowl for the entire day and stand. So, if I could do that, I felt I could do this as well. So, I tried umpiring.
"The first year was a bit challenging because, as a bowler, everything seemed to be against me. Because it was the bowler's perspective. So, whenever I saw something hit, I felt...
"Then, fortunately, in the second or third year, the BCCI introduced six cameras for every game. That's what I said previously. The opportunities the BCCI has provided are immense.
"So, we started seeing that. Seeing is believing, right? But when we had that TV in front of us, I knew that I was making mistakes."
Padmanabhan was the first player from Kerala to achieve the double of 2,000 runs and 200 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.
On umpiring, he added, "So, first that acceptance had to come... once that acceptance comes, then you grow.
"This is the best place to do umpiring. If you can get through this grind and come out of it, and then move to the international panel, I think you are ready. You can handle any pressure, any sort of crowd here, the challenging wickets we get here.
"I think when we come to the international panel, it could be tough to start with, it could be a cruel place, you might get about 5 or 6 (decisions) wrong at times.
"But still, if you overcome those moments, those failures, and move on with your umpiring, I think that will be the best thing an umpire can do. So, that will be my message to the young umpires."
Padmanabhan, who finished his playing career with 344 first-class wickets and nearly 2,900 runs, has officiated in over 100 First-Class matches, including multiple Ranji Trophy finals, and has been a regular umpire in the Indian Premier League since 2016.