IPL Umpires

Rudy Koertzen has umpired most number of IPL matches

4 seasons have passed by in the cash rich Indian Premier League. Many say the IPL is a boon to world cricket especially Indian cricket, while others consider it as a bane. But most importantly, IPL saw the return of many international players like Warne, Gilchrist, Muralitharan, Dravid etc. People rejoice seeing them in action. Not only players, but also the the umpires. Umpires play an important role in the IPL. They have got the power to deduce points from the tally for a team, if they didn’t play fair. The umpires and match referees decide the winner of the “Kingfisher Fair Play Award”. Umpires too have worn different colored jerseys across the four seasons which was new in the world cricket. Across the four seasons, more than 15 umpires have stood in IPL matches. From popularly known umpires like Koertzen, Taufel to little known umpires like Das, Shastri have been on duty of watching over the game in the IPL. Of all, Rudy Koertzen tops the list with 42 matches. Next in the list is the West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove with 35 matches.

Most matches as an umpire Umpire Span Matches RE Koertzen (South Africa) 2008-2011 42 BR Doctrove (West Indies) 2008-2011 35 SJA Taufel (Australia) 2009-2012 31 RB Tiffin (Zimbabwe) 2008-2011 30 DJ Harper (Australia) 2008-2010 28 Asad Rauf (Pakistan) 2008-2011 27 AM Saheba (India) 2008-2011 27 HDPK Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) 2009-2011 25 K Hariharan (India) 2008-2011 21 SK Tarapore (India) 2009-2011 20 BF Bowden (New Zealand) 2008-2010 18 BG Jerling (South Africa) 2008-2010 18 SS Hazare (India) 2009-2011 16 S Ravi (India) 2009-2011 16 Aleem Dar (Pakistan) 2008-2011 14 IL Howell (South Africa) 2008-2011 14 SL Shastri (India) 2009-2011 13 MR Benson (England) 2008-2009 13 M Erasmus (South Africa) 2009-2010 13 PR Reiffel (Australia) 2011-2011 11 RJ Tucker (Australia) 2011-2011 10 GAV Baxter (New Zealand) 2009-2009 7 SJ Davis (Australia) 2008-2008 7 AV Jayaprakash (India) 2008-2008 7 AL Hill (New Zealand) 2011-2011 6 GA Pratapkumar (India) 2008-2008 6 I Shivram (India) 2008-2008 6 TH Wijewardene (Sri Lanka) 2009-2009 6 S Das (India) 2010-2010 2 SD Ranade (India) 2009-2009 2 JD Cloete (South Africa) 2012-2012 1 In such a cash- rich league, umpires have to maintain their integritiy and should concentrate more amid the crowd’s buzz. They deserve a word of appreciation from cricket fans; may be an award at the end of season may do a world of good for local umpires.