Australian umpire Ben Treloar is experiencing the unique challenges of Indian domestic cricket as part of the BCCI-Cricket Australia Umpire Exchange Program for 2026-2027. While Parashar Joshi of India is slated to oversee the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup in Australia, the award-winning official will supervise two Ranji Trophy matches in India.
In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Ben Treloar discusses adjusting to unfamiliar circumstances, the challenges of officiating on flat Indian wickets, and the quality of the country’s spinners. His experience at Delhi’s Palam Ground, where the match produced over 1,100 runs in less than four days, changed his perspective on first-class cricket.
Ben Treloar explains how Australian and Indian pitches differ.
Ben Treloar underlined the Palam Ground’s unique circumstances in comparison to those seen elsewhere in Australia. The umpire had a different experience because the black-soil surface in Delhi did not deteriorate significantly as the game progressed.
Ben Treloar observed an extraordinarily high-scoring first-class match firsthand. One team scored over 650 runs, while the other scored more than 460.
Meanwhile, he found his introduction to Indian conditions more comfortable than he had anticipated due to the weather. Treloar was happy with the game’s temperatures and mild breeze.
The Indian bowlers’ precision impressed Ben Treloar.
Additionally, the Australian umpire praised Indian spinners for their technique and precision. As the game progressed, he saw that spin became more visible, particularly in the second innings.
He clarified that Australian conditions usually favor quick bowlers because to the extra bounce and grass on the wickets. As a result, spinners often take center stage later in games.
Furthermore, Ben Treloar is excited to test the conditions in Mumbai, where the red-soil surface may give a different blend of turn and bounce than the black-soil pitch in Delhi.
“It meant a lot to me when I received the call to come to India.”
According to Ben Treloar, the exchange program allows umpires to sharpen their skills by working in new environments. Given the importance of India’s domestic cricket system, he saw the opportunity to officiate there as particularly notable.
The Australian also recalled working with Karnataka umpire Abhijit Bengeri, who visited Australia last year and officiated games at venues such as the Gabba and WACA.
Through the exchange program, officials from both countries can gain experience in a variety of playing conditions, allowing them to adapt to the demands of international-standard cricket in a variety of contexts.
Ben Treloar recalls his worry leading up to his Ranji Trophy debut.
Treloar admitted that, despite his background as an umpire, he was nervous before his first Ranji Trophy assignment. He did, however, describe the experience as joyful anticipation rather than anxiety.
He also stated that the match officials’ kind nature helped him adjust to his new circumstances. Treloar thanked the team of authorities for their help during his duties.
Raghav Mehta is a sports journalist specializing in cricket coverage. His work focuses on breaking cricket news, match reports, team announcements, and significant developments across domestic and international cricket.
Expertise: Breaking News • Match Reports • Team Updates • International Cricket
