Vrinda Rathi: Biography, career, cricket journey and more details explored.
Vrinda Rathi is the first Indian woman to ever officiate as an on-field umpire, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has just officially announced that an all-female panel will be in charge of officiating the women’s Twenty20 World Cup matches in 2023.
Read on to learn more about Vrinda Rathi and her background.
Also Read: Sushma Verma (Cricketer): Biography, Career, Stats, Family, WPL Auction, Net Worth (2023) And More
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Vrinda Rathi Announced As First Indian Umpire For Women’s T20 World Cup
We are thrilled to announce that Vrinda Rathi has become India’s first female umpire for the Women’s T20 World Cup. With her Level 2 certification from the BCCI, she has broken barriers and paved the way for more young women to pursue umpiring as a career.
In a world dominated by male officials, Vrinda’s achievement inspires girls and women across India. Her journey to becoming an umpire started in Navi Mumbai, where she officiated local matches and often heard the word “sir” when referring to the umpire. But she never let that discourage her and continued to work hard towards her goals.1
Today, Vrinda’s hard work has paid off, and she has made history as the first female umpire for the Women’s T20 World Cup. Her achievement is a significant milestone for women’s cricket in India and has inspired many young women to follow in her footsteps.
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Who is Vrinda Rathi? A Biography of the Rising Umpire
Vrinda Rathi is a 33-year-old Indian umpire from Navi Mumbai who has made a name for herself in cricket. Her journey to becoming a top-tier umpire has been long and challenging, but her dedication and hard work have paid off, as she is now considered one of the best in her field.
Early Life and Education
Vrinda Rathi was born in Navi Mumbai in 1988. She was a cricket enthusiast from a young age and played cricket with the boys in her neighbourhood. She attended Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, and later graduated with a degree in commerce from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai.
Career in Cricket
After completing her education, Vrinda Rathi decided to pursue a career in cricket. She became a scorer for local cricket matches and became an umpire. Her first official match was the Women’s T20 Mumbai League in 2019. She has since umpired in various domestic tournaments, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy.2
In 2020, Vrinda Rathi was selected to be part of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Development Panel of Umpires. She is the second Indian woman to achieve this feat, after GS Lakshmi. This recognition opened up new avenues and allowed her to umpire international matches.
Vrinda Rathi’s International Debut
Vrinda Rathi’s international debut as an umpire was during the women’s T20I series between India and South Africa in 2021. Her first match was held in Lucknow, where she received praise for her excellent performance. Since then, she has umpired in several international matches, including the women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in 2021.
In July 2021, Vrinda Rathi was named as one of the umpires for the inaugural season of The Hundred, a professional cricket league in England. This was a significant milestone for her as she became the first Indian umpire to officiate in the league.3
Achievements and Recognition
Vrinda Rathi’s journey as an umpire has been impressive, and her hard work has not gone unnoticed. In addition to being part of the ICC Development Panel of Umpires, she was selected to be part of the International Panel of Match Referees in 2020. This is a significant achievement, as only a handful of umpires can make it to this level.
Vrinda Rathi: Career Details
- Vrinda Rathi, who is 33 years old and hails from Navi Mumbai, began her exciting career in the maidans of Mumbai. Rathi had been scoring local matches prior to his success in the BCCI scorers exam, which he ultimately passed with flying colors.
- In a notable accomplishment, she served as the official scorer for the BCCI during the 2013 Women’s World Cup.
- After that, she made the decision to convert to a career as an umpire, and after she became the second-ranked candidate in the Level 2 exam of the BCCI, she became India’s first female umpire.
- It is interesting to note that the umpire who is stationed in Mumbai recently officiated a match in the Ranji Trophy between Goa and Pondicherry that took place at Porvorim.
- In addition to that, Vrinda Rathi served as an umpire on the panel of development officials for the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the year 2020.
- As a result of this, Rathi has made history by becoming the first woman from India to ever work as an on-field umpire at the Women’s T20 World Cup, which is now being held in South Africa.
Vrinda Rathi: Recent Matches As Umpire
| MATCH | Date | Ground | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| WI WMN vs ENG WMN | 11-Feb-2023 | Paarl | WT20I # 1356 |
| BDESH WMN vs PAK WMN | 06-Feb-2023 | Cape Town | OTHERT20 |
| NZ WMN vs WI WMN | 06-Feb-2023 | Cape Town | OTHERT20 |
| Goa vs Puducherry | 10-Jan-2023 | Porvorim | FC |
| AUS WMN vs IND WMN | 20-Dec-2022 | Brabourne | WT20I # 1332 |
Vrinda Rathi Made Historical Strides By Officiating Ranji Trophy
We are excited to share the story of Vrinda Rathi, who made historical strides by becoming one of the first women to officiate in the Ranji Trophy competition. Along with N Janani and V Gayathri, Rathi’s accomplishment has helped make history and has opened doors for more women to enter the male-dominated field of cricket officiating.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a significant step in choosing women umpires for the men’s domestic circuit. Three women, including Rathi, were selected to officiate in the Ranji Trophy competition, one of India’s most prestigious domestic cricket tournaments.
Rathi, 32 years old and hails from Mumbai, has been making waves in the cricketing world. Before passing the BCCI scorers exam, she was previously a match scorer for local competitions. During the 2013 Women’s World Cup, she served as the official scorer for the BCCI. In later years, she transitioned into the role of umpire.
Rathi’s journey to becoming an umpire was a challenging one. It required hard work, dedication, and persistence. Rathi started her cricketing journey as a scorer, but her passion for cricket pushed her to take up umpiring.
Since then, Rathi has officiated in various domestic cricket tournaments in India. She has also been appointed as an umpire in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has become one of the most respected umpires in the game.
Rathi’s promotion to the ICC development panel is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has inspired women who aspire to become umpires in cricket.
Rathi’s accomplishment has opened doors for more women to enter the male-dominated field of cricket officiating. Her success has shown that women can excel in this field and that gender should not be a barrier to pursuing one’s passion.
With the BCCI’s decision to choose women umpires for the men’s domestic circuit, more women are expected to take up umpiring in the coming years. This move has created opportunities for women and brought a new perspective to the game of cricket.
