Who was the India’s First Woman Umpire in Cricket? Know the Name

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in India, enjoyed by people of all ages. Over the years, not only men but also women have started playing important roles in the game. From players to coaches and even umpires, women are breaking barriers in cricket. Recently, India saw a proud moment when, for the first time, a woman was chosen to umpire in a men’s Test match.

First Woman Umpire of India in Cricket

The first woman umpire of India in cricket is Vrinda Ghanshyam Rathi. She started her career in women’s matches and later became one of the first women to umpire in a men’s domestic match in 2023. Vrinda has also umpired in international games and is an inspiration for many young girls in sports.

Early Life of Vrinda Rathi

Vrinda Rathi was born on 14 February 1989 in Navi Mumbai, India. From a young age, she had a great interest in sports. She also had a deep love for cricket and wanted to be a part of the game in some way.

How She Became an Umpire?

Vrinda worked hard to learn the rules of cricket. She passed the BCCI umpiring exams and began working in women’s matches. Slowly, she gained experience and started umpiring in bigger games. Her dedication and sharp decision-making helped her grow in her career.

Important Moments in Her Career

Vrinda Rathi was chosen by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as part of the Development Panel of Umpires. She was one of the few women selected to umpire in the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

On 10 January 2023, Vrinda made history. Along with Narayanan Janani and Gayathri Venugopalan, she became one of the first women to umpire a men’s domestic Ranji Trophy match in India. She was the on-field umpire in the match between Goa and Pondicherry.

In September 2024, she was again selected for the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where all the match officials were women.

Matches Vrinda Rathi has Umpired

Vrinda has umpired in many international and domestic matches:

• 47 Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is) from 2022 to 2024
• 8 Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs)
• 1 Women’s Test Match
• 3 Men’s First-Class matches (like the Ranji Trophy)

A Role Model for Young Girls

Vrinda Rathi has shown that with hard work, women can also succeed in fields that were once thought to be only for men. She is an inspiration to many young girls who want to work in sports, especially in cricket.