India vs England 2020-21: Indian umpires to officiate during Chennai Tests

India and England are soon to lock horns in a four-Test series for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, defended by the host. The opening two Tests would be held in Chennai, as the series gets underway from February 5. The Chennai Tests would have Indian umpires at the helm.

India and England are getting ready to face off in a gruelling four-Test series for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, starting February 5. While India is the defending champion, the opening two Tests of the series would be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai.

It would be the first home series of Team India in the prevailing pandemic era. The International Cricket Council has limited the travelling of neutral umpires for overseas tours, as local umpires officiate in the series. Same would be the case in India.

According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, ICC has appointed Anil Chaudhary and Virender Sharma, along with Nitin Menon for the Chennai Tests. Currently, Menon is the only Elite Panel Indian umpire in the ICC list, while Chaudhary and Sharma would be making their Test debut.

While Chaudhary would be the on-field umpire in the first Tests, Sharma would replace him in the second. C Shamshuddin would be the third umpire in the first and would be replaced by Chaudhary in the second. Meanwhile, former Indian pacer, Javagal Srinath would be the ICC Match Referee during the tour's entire tenure.

In the meantime, ICC is yet to take a call on whether to have neutral umpires for the remaining two Tests, to be played in Ahmedabad. The third Test would be a day-night affair. Meanwhile, if the Indian umpires are retained for the same, Menon could officiate in his maiden day-night Test. Notably, he has the experience of officiating in day-night domestic ties, during the Duleep Trophy and Australia's Sheffield Shield.

Test schedule
February 5-9: 1st Test (Chennai)
February 13-17: 2nd Test (Chennai)
February 24-28: 3rd D/N Test (Ahmedabad)
March 4-8: 4th Test (Ahmedabad)