India vs England 2021: Indian Umpires Anil Choudhary And Virender Sharma Set To Make Their Test Debut In England Series

The International Cricket Council [ICC] has announced the Indian pair of Anil Choudhary and Virender Sharma to stand alongside Nitin Menon in the upcoming Test series between hosts India and England.

India is all set to host England in a full-fledged series consisting of four Tests, five T20Is, and three One-day Internationals. The series will kickstart with the four-match Test rubber, with the first two Tests set to take place at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

The ICC’s decision to appoint the duo of Anil Choudhary and Virender Sharma is in continuation with the apex body’s policy of using home umpires in the post-Covid world.

Ever since the pandemic broke out, the ICC had put the policy of appointing neutral umpires on hold. The only time it hasn’t happen was during the recently-concluded ODI series between Bangladesh and the West Indies when the ICC was forced to appoint England’s Richard Illingworth as Bangladesh does not have any official in the Elite Panel.

While Nitin Menon, who is the only Indian Umpire in the ICC Elite Panel, will be standing in his 4th Test, both Virender Sharma and Anil Choudhary will be making their respective debuts.

According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Anil Choudhary will be the on-field umpire alongside Nitin Menon in the opening Test, with Virender Sharma replacing him in the second.

C Shamshuddin will be officiating in the third Test, which is a day-night affair at the newly created Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, and will be replaced by Choudhary for the following match. Former Indian pacer Javagal Srinath will be the match referee for the entire England tour.

The first Test between India and England will take place at the Chepauk on February 5.

Also Read: India vs England 2021: Team India Players Return Negative For The First Of Three Covid Tests; Families Allowed To Stay With Cricketers During Hard Quarantine