Former all-rounder Reetinder Sodhi is now a match referee

Reetinder Singh Sodhi

Former India all-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi is back on the cricket field albeit in a new avtaar this time - as match referee.


Reetinder Singh Sodhi

The 34-year-old from Punjab cleared the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) examination a couple of months ago held in Bangalore on first attempt.

The Mumbai versus Baroda U-19 Cooch Behar match at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday was his third assignment.

"It is a very challenging role. There are so many things that a match referee has to look at. I am very eager to do well," said Sodhi.

Sodhi showed a lot of promise when he led the U-15 team to World Cup title against Pakistan at Lord's in August 1996. At 16, he made his first-class debut and was the vice-captain of the U-19 World Cup winning-team in 2000.

International career
However, his international career was modest, claiming five wickets and scoring 280 runs in 18 ODIs from 2000 to 2002. Sodhi then joined the rebel Indian Cricket League, but cut ties with them in 2009 when the BCCI granted amnesty.

Thereafter, he played two seasons for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL, but a back injury cut short his career.

Sodhi is relieved to be associated with cricket again. "I don't think anything has changed for me except that now I don't carry my kit bag to the ground and I am not in my cricketing gear," he said.