New Delhi [India]: The IPL 2025 season is set to kick off with a thrilling match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Adding to the excitement, Tanmay Srivastava, a former cricketer who played a crucial role in India’s 2008 U-19 World Cup victory under Virat Kohli, has been appointed as an umpire for the tournament, as reported by Wisden.
Srivastava, who played for Punjab Kings in the 2008 and 2009 IPL seasons, is now the first player globally to participate in the IPL both as a cricketer and an umpire. His appointment was confirmed by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), which celebrated the achievement with a post on their official X handle, stating:
“A true player never leaves the field–just changes the game. Wishing Tanmay Srivastava the best as he dons a new hat with the same passion!”
Srivastava enjoyed a successful domestic cricket career with Uttar Pradesh, notably scoring a century in the 2007 Ranji Trophy final against Delhi. He emerged as the top scorer in the 2008 U-19 World Cup, scoring 262 runs, including a crucial 43 runs in the final against South Africa.
Following his impressive domestic performances, Srivastava was contracted by Kings XI Punjab, later joining Deccan Chargers and Kochi Tuskers Kerala, though he didn’t feature in matches for those franchises. Over his career, Srivastava played 90 first-class matches, scoring 4,918 runs at an average of 34.39, with 10 centuries and 27 fifties. He retired from all formats in 2020.