In the ever-evolving world of sports, career paths can often take unexpected turns. Virat Kohli, who announced his arrival on the world stage by leading India to victory in the 2008 ICC U19 World Cup, has since cemented his legacy as one of cricket's all-time greats. Yet, for many of Kohli's teammates from that U19 squad, the journey hasn't been quite as illustrious.
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season kicks off, Kohli will once again don the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) jersey. Meanwhile, one of his former U19 teammates, Tanmay Srivastava, embarks on a new chapter as an umpire in the tournament. According to the Times of India, Srivastava, now 35, has secured a role as an umpire in the IPL.
Back in the 2008 U19 World Cup final, Srivastava was India's top scorer, sharing the spotlight with Kohli.
Despite his early promise, his cricketing journey diverged after a brief stint with Punjab Kings, following his U19 success. Reflecting on his career path, Srivastava shared, "I understood that was the best player I could be. I was nowhere close to playing the IPL. I had to decide if I wanted to prolong life as a player or have a longer, successful second innings."
Having captained Uttarakhand and previously represented Uttar Pradesh, Srivastava hung up his boots at 30. His passion for cricket, however, remained undiminished.
Transitioning from player to umpire, he embarked on a challenging yet fulfilling journey. Although he is yet to take charge on the IPL field, he's hopeful about his prospects.
Srivastava continues to maintain a rapport with Kohli. He remarked, "I am still in touch with Virat, but I had to decide for myself and have a practical outlook."
Upon expressing his desire to pursue a different role within cricket to Rajiv Shukla, Srivastava faced initial surprise given his young age. After exploring different avenues, including completing a Level 2 coaching course, he found his calling in umpiring. "I knew the best I could become was a fielding coach, so I decided to focus on umpiring," he explained.
Balancing various roles, including working as a talent scout for RCB and coaching at the National Cricket Academy, Srivastava dedicated himself to mastering the intricacies of umpiring. "Studying for umpiring is tough. You have to stay up late and study a lot to understand the laws and their implications," he shared.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keen on encouraging young players to enter umpiring, shifting reliance away from older individuals with primarily theoretical knowledge. Srivastava's transition reflects this changing mindset and the BCCI's broader vision for the future of cricket officiating.