Archive · 10 Oct 2026
At 80, Narendra Menon Still Umpires Junior Cricket in Indore
Narendra Menon is 80 years old and still helps umpire children’s cricket games in Indore.
He teaches boys aged 12 to 15 how the rules work while they play.
He explains things like when a runner is out and when a batter has been bowled.
He came back to the ground four years ago after his grandson started playing.
Menon used to umpire international cricket, with his last international game in 1998.
His son, Nitin, is also an umpire.
Narendra says an umpire should watch the bat, ball and stumps, not the players’ faces.
He enjoys helping young players learn the game.
Narendra Menon, 80, continues to umpire junior matches at Indore’s Central Gymkhana ground.
He teaches boys aged 12 to 15 cricket rules during matches, including run-outs, appeals and no-balls.
Menon returned to junior cricket four years ago when his grandson Hrishabh began playing.
He officiated internationally until 1998, entered umpiring in 1990, and later served as an umpire coach from 2007 for almost a decade.
His son Nitin Menon is also an umpire, and Narendra says he advised him to focus on the bat, ball and stumps rather than players’ faces.
- Who
- Narendra Menon, an 80-year-old former international umpire, teaches and umpires junior cricketers; his son Nitin Menon is also an umpire.
- What
- Menon continues to umpire junior matches and teach players cricket rules.
- When
- He returned to this work four years ago; his last international match was in 1998.
- Where
- Central Gymkhana ground, Indore, India.
- Why
- He says he loves umpiring and wants young players to learn the game.
Menon’s view
Technology’s scrutiny
Technology and umpiring
Menon’s view
Menon says modern umpiring has become harder because far more cameras can capture mistakes.
Technology’s scrutiny
The article does not present a contrasting viewpoint on technology.
- Age
- 80
- Ground
- Central Gymkhana ground, Indore
- Junior players
- Boys aged 12 to 15
- Returned to junior cricket
- Four years ago, when his grandson Hrishabh started playing
- Last international match
- 1998
- Umpiring batch
- Among the first group of 10 first-class cricketers to enter umpiring in 1990
- Umpire coach
- From 2007 for almost a decade
- Ranji Trophy finals
- He officiated finals in 2000 and 2003