A special century: Anil Dandekar set to umpire 100th First Class match as BCCI Umpire
A landmark is about to be achieved by Anil Dandekar. The upcoming Ranji Trophy match between Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh, to be played at Salem Cricket Foundation Ground, Salem, Tamil Nadu, from 23rd to 26th January, 2025, shall be Dandekar's 100th First-class match as an on-field umpire.
A practicing Chartered Accountant, Dandekar started following his passion of umpiring in 1990 at the age of 22 when he passed the Umpires Exam conducted by the Bombay Cricket Association.
With his hard work, dedication, focus, and commitment, Dandekar passed the Umpires Exam conducted by BCCI in 1997 and made his First-class debut in 1999.
He further went on to pass the All India Panel Umpires Exam conducted by BCCI in 2005.
Due to his consistent performances and experience, he was selected to umpire Sheffield Shield matches in Australia and the Sunfoil Series in South Africa on an Umpire Exchange Program.
Dandekar was declared the Best Domestic Umpire of India for the 2016-17 season by BCCI.
He further added a feather in his cap when he stood in the Ranji Trophy final match of the 2017-18 season.
Overall, Dandekar has officiated in 87 Ranji Trophy matches, four Duleep Trophy matches, two Sheffield Shield matches, two Sunfoil Series matches, and four tour matches so far, along with 300-plus other BCCI matches, including List A, T20, age-group matches, and more.
Dandekar has also officiated Test, ODI, and T20 International matches as Reserve Umpire and has also stood in Women’s ODI and T20 International matches.
Dandekar has also officiated 83 IPL matches as an on-field, TV, and Reserve Umpire.
Dandekar expressed his feelings on his journey of about 35 years as an umpire on this upcoming landmark moment of his career:
"Starting in 1990 with a simple question from my father: 'Why don't you do umpiring if you like this sport so much?' And to reach here now after 35 years for officiating 100th First-class game is really a great feeling. I learned so many things in life that helped me personally, made so many new friends, visited different places, and shared the cricket field with practically all of the topmost Indian and international cricketers of my time. The journey, with its own ups and downs, has been fascinating, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. Rock-solid support of my parents, my wife, my kids, my teachers, MCA & BCCI has taken me so far in this wonderful journey."
The memories are vivid, and Dandekar fondly remembers his first First-class match.
"The memories are fresh. It was a Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Tripura on 22nd November, 1999, at Agartala. I was really very excited about it as I was making my First-class umpiring debut in the second year of my BCCI umpiring journey itself. I was ecstatic."
The journey has been nothing short of fascinating from then on.
"Honestly, when I started, I never dreamt of umpiring at such high-level games for BCCI. It just started with a simple thought: “Let me be involved with the game I loved the most.” Slowly, step by step, first at MCA, then at BCCI, I started climbing the ladders in umpiring and now I am here doing my 100th First-class Match"
So, what has kept him going?
"It's the support from my family and my progress in this field over the period of time that has kept me motivated. And more than anything else, it's the sheer joy that I get to walk on the cricket field and watch this game from such close quarters that has kept me going."
The BCCI congratulates Anil Yashwant Dandekar on his distinguished achievement and wishes him well to serve Indian cricket in the years to come.
