Veteran Umpire Anil Chaudhary Announces Retirement from International Cricket and IPL

An experienced umpire, Anil Chaudhary, has retired from international cricket and the Indian Premier League. He will not be present in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Chaudhary has been in the field between 2013 and 2024, he has umpired in 12 Tests, 49 ODIs, 64 T20Is, 131 IPL matches (it was a record of on-field appearances for any umpire, along with S Ravi), 91 first-class games, 114 List A matches, and 278 T20s.

The Ranji Trophy final between Vidarbha and Kerala held in Nagpur from February 26 to March 2, was Chaudhary's final BCCI-affiliated match. His last international appearance as an umpire was the India-Australia One-Day International on September 27. Interestingly, Chaudhary made his international debut on October 10, 2013, in a T20I clash between India and Australia at Rajkot.

Anil Chaudhary's New Journey: From Umpiring to Commentary

While some assume Chaudhary has "retired" at 60, he has clarified that he has shifted from umpiring to commentary. In fact, he is the first Indian umpire to make a full-time transition to commentary after officiating in international cricket.

"I've transformed into a commentator now. It's a bit out of the box for me, broadcasting. For the last six months, I've been behind the mike. I commentated during the Champions Trophy in March, though I took a 'break' during that time for umpiring in the Ranji Trophy final. I've received very good feedback about my umpiring. The viewers feel that I give a different perspective since an umpire's perspective is completely different. People feel that I say interesting things on TV commentary," Chaudhary told Times of India.

He is the most experienced umpire in IPL history, having officiated in 226 matches 131 as an on-field umpire, 21 as a fourth umpire, and the rest as a TV umpire. Chaudhary is the only Indian to have officiated in an Asia Cup final, standing in the middle for the T20 summit clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on September 11, 2022. He is also possibly the only umpire to have officiated in five Ranji Trophy finals.

"I'm going to umpire in T20 leagues in UAE and the US now. So, I'll play a dual role as an umpire and as a commentator. I'm also launching a YouTube channel called 'Umpire's Call by Anil Chaudhary,' and I'm forming a company, which will be called 'Voice & Verdict' in which I'll train the umpires," Chaudhary said. 

IPL 2025 Umpires List