Richard Kettleborough, a 51-year-old international umpire from England, has a checkered past with India in ICC knockout matches. Over the last decade, Kettleborough has officiated in several high-profile tournaments, with Team India suffering losses in each of the matches he has handled. His involvement in Indian cricket’s biggest games has been marked by controversy and heartbreak.
One of the most memorable and painful matches for Indian fans was the 2014 T20 World Cup final, in which Kettleborough was the on-field umpire when India lost to Sri Lanka. Since then, he has been involved in several other crucial matches, including India’s encounters with Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, and New Zealand. The 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was another agonizing loss for India, with Kettleborough once again present on the field. He also took on the role of TV umpire in the World Test Championship finals in 2021 and 2023.
As the 2024 T20 World Cup final approaches, fans of the Indian cricket team are wondering if Kettleborough will be part of the match officials named by the ICC. Fortunately, the news is not as dismal as it could have been, with Kettleborough not being selected as one of the on-field umpires for the final between India and South Africa. Instead, Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth will take on the responsibility of officiating on the field. However, Kettleborough’s name is listed as the TV umpire for the match.
Richard Kettleborough (Via Richard Kettleborough/Twitter)
Before his career as an umpire, Kettleborough played cricket professionally for Yorkshire and Middlesex. A left-handed top-order batter, he also bowled part-time seam. His first-class career spanned from 1994 to 1999, during which he played 33 matches, scoring 1258 runs at an average of 25.16, with one hundred and seven fifties. With the ball, he picked up three wickets at an average of 81. In List A games, he scored 290 runs at an average of 24.16 with one half-century, and claimed six wickets at an average of 38.33 and an economy rate of 5.11.
Despite his impressive cricketing career, Kettleborough’s history with India in ICC knockout matches is a cause for concern. However, his latest deployment as TV umpire for the 2024 T20 World Cup final may be an opportunity for him to change his fortunes and rewrite his history with the Men in Blue.
