- Ben Treloar salutes the artistry of Indian spinners and Delhi’s festive spirit at the Ranji Trophy awards ceremony. The Australian umpire is officiating two Ranji Trophy matches as part of the BCCI-Cricket Australia exchange program and was impressed by the quality of spin bowling and the local culture.
- Ben Treloar praises Indian spinners’ artistry and Delhi’s festive spirit at Ranji Trophy awards (Credit: Albert Perez/ and Sameera Peiris/) Australian umpire Ben Treloar takes on the unique challenges of Indian domestic cricket as part of the BCCI-Cricket Australia Umpire Exchange Program 2026-27.
- The award-winning official will officiate two Ranji Trophy matches in India, while India’s Parashar Joshi is expected to officiate the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup in Australia.
Ben Treloar salutes the artistry of Indian spinners and Delhi’s festive spirit at the Ranji Trophy awards ceremony. The Australian umpire is officiating two Ranji Trophy matches as part of the BCCI-Cricket Australia exchange program and was impressed by the quality of spin bowling and the local culture.
Ben Treloar praises Indian spinners’ artistry and Delhi’s festive spirit at Ranji Trophy awards (Credit: Albert Perez/ and Sameera Peiris/) Australian umpire Ben Treloar takes on the unique challenges of Indian domestic cricket as part of the BCCI-Cricket Australia Umpire Exchange Program 2026-27. The award-winning official will officiate two Ranji Trophy matches in India, while India’s Parashar Joshi is expected to officiate the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup in Australia. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Treloar spoke about adting to unfamiliar conditions, the challenges of umpiring on Indian flats and the quality of the country’s spinners.
His experience at the Palam Ground in Delhi offered a different perspective on first-class cricket, with the game producing over 1,100 runs in less than four days. “It is incredibly difficult to penetrate a foreign environment. This is first-class cricket here in India.
It was difficult, but a lot of fun. The great thing is being put under pressure in different conditions and learning more about yourself,” Treloar said. Ben Treloar looks at the differences between Indian and Australian pitches. Treloar highlighted the differences between the conditions at the Palam site and those normally found in Australia.
The black clay surface in Delhi remained weak throughout the game and did not deteriorate significantly, making it a very different experience for the referee. “That black clay pitch [Palam Ground, Delhi] stayed low throughout the game and didn’t crack at all. Staying at one end for four days and only doing four overs at the other end was a new experience.
In Australia we switch sides from the first days,” he said. The game also gave Treloar the opportunity to experience exceonally high-level competition first-hand. One team managed 650 runs while the opponents responded with a total of over 460 runs.
“This is the first time I have officiated an innings where a team scored 650. The other team then scored around 460 points. Even though it’s flat doesn’t mean it’s easy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the weather made his introduction to Indian conditions more pleasant than he had expected. Treloar was pleased with the temperatures and light breeze during the game. “30-31 degrees, light breeze.
Very similar to home. “A perfect start instead of 38 degrees and 100% humidity,” he said. Treloar impressed with the precision of the Indian spinners. The Australian umpire also praised the quality of the Indian spinners, particularly their precision and skill.
He observed that the impact became more parent as the game progressed, particularly in the second set. “We had a lot of spin this week, more in the second set. The spinners here are incredibly talented.
Their craft is perfected, they are very precise,” Treloar said. He explained that Australian conditions generally favor fast bowlers due to the added bounce and grass on the pitches. As a result, spinners often play a larger role later in games.
“In Australia we generally see more quicks because the conditions have more bounce and grass so the spinners come later. I was really looking forward to being put under pressure by the spinners here. In red-earth Mumbai, I expect more twists and turns,” he added.
Treloar is also looking forward to experiencing the conditions in Mumbai, where the red clay could offer a different combination of bounce and spin compared to the black clay in Delhi. “When I got the call to come to India, it meant a lot to me.” Treloar described the exchange program as an important opportunity for referees to develop their skills by working in unfamiliar environments. He said the opportunity to officiate in India was particularly significant given the importance of the national cricket structure.
“It’s massive for us. All our umpires strive for it. When I got the call to come to India, it meant a lot,” he said.
The Australian also recalls working with Karnataka referee Abhijit Bengeri, who visited Australia last year and officiated matches at venues such as the WACA and the Gabba. “He came to Australia and experienced the rhythm at the WACA and then the Gabba. He performed incredibly well.
We referees still talk about his good integration. It’s an incredible opportunity,” Treloar said. The exchange program allows officials from both countries to experience different playing conditions, thereby meeting the demands of international cricket in different environments.
Ben Treloar recalls his nervousness ahead of his Ranji Trophy debut. Despite his experience as an umpire, Treloar admitted that he was a bit nervous ahead of his first outing in the Ranji Trophy. However, he described this feeling as positive anticipation rather than fear. “Oh yeah, slightly.
Good nerves, anticipation. We arrived four days early to acclimatize. When I got to the ground on the first day, I was excited.
Once this first round is over, another cricket match begins and you try to be fair to all the players,” he said. He also felt that the welcoming atmosphere among the match officials helped him adt to his new surroundings. Treloar praised the support he received from the team of officials during his mission.
“We had a great PCT with Vinod, Arjun and the match referee. It made for a seamless transition,” he added.
