IPL 2019: Most matches as an umpire in IPL history

The final countdown for the Indian Premier League has begun. The most awaited tournament of the season is scheduled to begin on the 23rd of March. The season will kick off at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai where the current defending champions Chennai Super Kings take on the Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore in an all South-Indian Derby.

In the 12 seasons of the IPL, many great Umpires from all over the world have been a part of this mega event. Umpires play a crucial role in this intense league. The umpires, along with the referees also rate the teams on the Fair-play scale. Over the years, the tournament has witnessed more than 50 umpires of high-standard refereeing. We will look at the top 15 umpires to adjudicate the most number games in the most followed T20 tournament in the world.

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#6 Simon Taufel

Simon Taufel has won the Prestigious Davis Shephard trophy for a record 5 times

At number 6, We have the Australian from New South Wales - Simon Taufel. Simon was regarded as one of the best umpires in the world during his time. He won the Prestigious Davis Shephard trophy for a record 5 consecutive years between years 2004 and 2008.

Taufel was a member of the ICC Elite Panel of umpires and has taken part various important tournaments and series such as the 2004 Champions Trophy Final, 2011 World Cup Final and Important test tournaments.

Simon has been a part of the mega event IPL every season until his retirement. He has been a part of IPL in as many as 55 games and has even been the Umpire in various IPL qualifiers and the Finals.

#5 Marias Erasmus

Erasmus has won the David Shephard Trophy in consecutive years of 2016 and 2017

At number 5, we have one of the most famous names in world cricket - Marais Erasmus. The South-African from Cape Province is one of the current members of the “Elite Panel of ICC umpires” and stands in all the three formats of the game. He has been a part of various prominent and glamorous tournaments like the 2011 and 2015 ICC Cricket World Cups.

A former first-class cricketer himself, Erasmus won the prestigious David Shephard Trophy for the Umpire of the year in 2016. He was first South African to achieve this feat. He again later won the trophy in the consecutive year.

The South-African has been one of the only few umpires who has been a part of almost all the IPL seasons. He has officiated in as many as 62 IPL games spanning from 2009 until present.

#4 C Shamsuddin

Shamsuddin is a member of the ICC International Panel and takes part in the One-day and T20 formats

One of the top umpires from India, Shamsuddin is a member of the ICC International Panel and takes part in the One-day and T20 formats. The Hyderabadi was appointed as India's representative to the ICC International Umpires for the third umpire category in 2013.

He has been associated with the IPL from the 5th season and has so far been a part of 66 games. C Shamsuddin will take part in the 12th edition of IPL, starting March 23.

#3 Anil Chaudhary

Another top official from India, Anil Chaudhary began his career along with C Shamsuddin. He has been a part of the ICC International Umpires panel and takes part in One day and T20 formats. Chaudhary has even taken part in the last edition of Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand where India won the trophy for the record 4th time.

Anil has been associated with the IPL since 2012 and has been part every year since then. He has taken part in as many as 66 games.

#2 Kumar Dharmasena

Kumar has taken part in various important tournaments, World-cups, and even the high intense Ashes series

Kumar Dharmasena, the former Sri Lankan International cricketer, ranks second in this list of umpires with most matches in the IPL. Dharmasena is one highly rated umpires of the world and is fresh from the winning David Shephard trophy for the ICC Umpire of the year in 2018.

He is part of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and has taken part in various important tournaments, World-Cups and even the high intense Ashes series between England and Australia. He is one of the only players to both Play and Umpire in a World Cup final.

Dharmasena has been a part of the IPL since 2009 and continues to be a part of it. In his 11 years, he has officiated in a whopping 94 IPL games.

#1 S Ravi

S Ravi heads the list with 97 IPL games

The list is headed by another member of Elite Panel of ICC umpires - Sundaram Ravi. S Ravi is currently the only Indian to be a part of this panel and only the second Indian in the history after S Venkataraghavan to be a member of this panel.

Ravi has officiated in as many as 97 IPL games and will be a part of IPL 2019 as well.