Madanagopal T20 World Cup Umpire

Way back in 2011, the then TNCA Secretary, KS Viswanathan told this writer that JR Madanagopal was the best player turned umpire after Venkataraghavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/venkataraghavan75.html). He had predicted that Madan would make it big in umpire, something that he was not able to do as a player. After some low moments in the middle of the previous decade, Madan (Maddy to his cricketing friends) has bounced back strongly and emerged as a top umpire in India in the last couple of years. This week he has been chosen as one of the only two umpires from India to officiate in the T20 World Cup that starts next month. It is a transformational moment for Madan as he makes the jump right to the top of the Umpiring World.

Even though he had got into the IPL as a fourth umpire in its initial years, he did not get the right breaks and even opportunities in the Ranji Trophy knock outs remained elusive for quite a long time. In his mind, there could easily have been thoughts if umpiring was going the same way as his playing days. Not once did he complain or air his disappointment. Credit to his professionalism, Madanagopal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/madanagopal-j.html) had answered with his bat as a player when given the chance!!!! While he performed extraordinarily as a middle order batsman for TN in the late 1990s and early 2000s topping the batting charts for a couple of years, he did not get the right opportunities at the next level and missed out of higher laurels as a player. In his debut season and the next, he topped 500runs in Ranji cricket, scored two centuries but had already been dropped twice from the squad!!

He was a great mentor and had several offers as a coach and there was a lucrative coaching career in the offing. But he had made up his mind that his future was in umpiring and unmindful of the delay in moving up to the next level, he continued to give his best and waited his time out hoping that one day that the fortunes would turn around for him (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/03/umpire-madanagopal-ipl-call.html).

Former BCCI Umpire R Radhakrishnan was the one who mentored several umpires in the early 2000s before they took the BCCI examination in 2006. He had told this writer earlier that out of the all the umpires that he had helped prepare for the exam, Madan was the one who had the most thought-provoking arguments "Even at that very early stage, he craved for perfection and did not accept unless he was 100% satisfied. He has that ability and inclination to learn everything in its absoluteness and thoroughly. His focus as an umpire is something to be emulated.”

National Selector Sharath (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/01/sharath-s-national-selector.html) is just back after selecting the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. He has known Madan for over three decades and the two played together both for TN as well as in the same team in the first division league in Chennai. He has watched Madan closely during the time he was a Match Referee. He credits Madan for his great professionalism “Even though we were close friends, he always maintained a professional distance as an umpire. He is a very balanced guy and doesn’t get carried away with good or bad days. That is a big differentiator and is a stand out character. He is calm, composed, committed and sincere to his profession that has made him get to where he is now. He has put in a lot of effort in domestic cricket over the last two decades to come to this level. He is respected for his decision making and is high on skills and knowledge. He has been greatly consistent and will be a big inspiration for youngsters to get to the next level. Watching him Umpire will raise the bar for youngsters.”

Madanagopal has always been one of the most likeable characters in TN cricket and every upcoming cricketer in Tamil Nadu has looked up to him for guidance and they still continue to, though he is now fully immersed in umpiring. During his playing days, Madanagopal had stayed under the radar and away from limelight and tried to do his best in the opportunities that came his way.  He has been ‘silent’ and ‘off radar’ as an umpire as well. ICC Match Referee V Narayanan Kutti had told this writer in 2021 that Madan’s Qualities enhance the image of Umpiring.

Balanced and Sound, temperamentally
Former Kerala leg spinner KN Ananthapadmanabhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/ananthapadmanabhan-kn.html) got into umpiring in the same year as Madan, in 2006 and the two have umpired many matches together in recent years. He has found Madan to be an excellent team man “He understands the game well, is well versed with Laws and the playing conditions. He is balanced and sound temperamentally. He has outstanding communication skills. He is a full package and deserves all the success that is coming his way”, Ananthapadmanabhan told this writer on Sunday morning.

KS Viswanathan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/02/ks-viswanathan-tnca-bcci-ipl.html),  CEO, CSK, has seen Madan as a player right from his teenage days. Both his brother DJ Gokulakrishnan(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/03/gokulakrishnan-j.html), who passed away last year and Madan had always been likeable characters in the dressing room. 

KSV told this writer on Sunday morning that that Madan has been one of the most studious persons both as a player and an umpire. "His knowledge of the laws of cricket ranks among the Best. Being a cricketer turned umpire, he knows how to control a game on the field. He is rated one of the best umpires in India and has a bright future."

Match referee P Ranganathan, who played first class cricket for Kerala in the 1980s, told this writer three years ago that Madan exudes confidence when he walks out on to the field “He displays a great deal of confidence as an umpire. His communication skills are very good. In addition to decision making, what is important for an umpire is the match management. I have seen the manner of his interactions with players and officials to be very good. A clear advantage for him is that he has been a first class player and hence he knows the players’ psyche and the ways of taking control of a match.”

Ranganathan had told this writer then that it was critical for Madan to get the right exposure in the first half of this decade and his elevation in his late 40s would give him sufficient number of years to showcase himself at the highest level. This week Madanagopal has had that big elevation right to the top of the Umpiring World as his appointment to the T20 World Cup marks yet another important milestone in his umpiring career. As has been his trait, Madan doesn't exhibit too much emotions even at this big moment of glory. He told this writer from Mumbai on a rest day away from cricket that he is happy with the appointment to the World Cup and believes that it is a good recognition!!!

This section wishes him the Best for the World Cup.