After retirement from cricket, former India wicket-keeper, Sadanand Viswanath took up umpiring and officiated as an umpire for over two decades. Having started the second innings in 1995, he will be officiating in his last match as an umpire in the Chhattisgarh vs Odisha, U19 Cooch Behar Trophy match in Bhilai from Nov 19 to 22, 2017.
Reflecting on his journey as an umpire, Viswanath said, “It has been an exhilarating journey right from the 1995 season when our Board requested former Test players to take up umpiring.” Ten former Test cricketers appeared, Viswanath being one of them, for the viva and medical exams conducted at Secunderabad. He was one of the six to be chosen, he considered himself very fortunate and blessed that the BCCI provided him an opportunity to contribute as an umpire.
“I have enjoyed the journey of being a cricket umpire, crisscrossing our incredible country, interacting with a cross-section of people, enjoying the beauty and the landscapes and various stadia in our country. And also watching the young cricketers coming up as impact players and many of them going on to represent the country,” he added.
“Like any other umpire, I tried to emulate Mr S Venkataraghavan, who was the torchbearer as a cricket umpire in the international arena. We tried to emulate him and tried to become an ICC umpire. However, that dream never came true. I pursued it and have taken it into my stride and have absolutely no regrets,” he stated.
Viswanath worked with a bank for 15 years and is also a Level- 3 qualified coach. He has represented India in three Tests, 22 ODIs besides playing 74 first-class matches and 48 List A matches.
Speaking about umpiring he said that to be able to step onto the ground and again see the game in a different dimension is what he has enjoyed most of about the role. “Umpiring requires a lot of devotion, concentration, focus, commitment, integrity and I am glad that I had those qualities and I did my job to the best of my ability,” he mentioned.
“Watching all the cricketers, the present-day stars, watching the efforts of young children representing their state has been totally a dream come true. It has been very memorable. You can’t pick one single moment it has been a rainbow of emotion and it has been an amalgamation of entire feelings and efforts because I too have the experience of the anguish, the anxiety and the joys and the sorrows of trying to become a cricketer. So, I could understand what could go through a young cricketer’s mind. It is something that gave me a lot of satisfaction which I looked forward to day in and day out every single day of the year. These 40 days actually filled up my life and my heart with immense happiness and joy,” he concluded.
