Virinchirpuram Krishnamoorthi Ramaswamy is a former Indian international cricket umpire, born on 26th April 1945 in Madras, presently Chennai. He is mostly remembered for his meticulous and unbiased decisions on the field. He was hailed as a “Top-Class Umpire” by Wisden.
Early Career
Ramaswamy was a right-handed batsman and right-arm off break bowler in his playing days. Later, Ramaswamy began his domestic umpiring career from early 70s.
Umpiring Career
Ramaswamy officiated his first game in the second ODI between India and West Indies in November 1983 at Vadodara.
Ramaswamy’s test umpiring career begun in the fourth test between India and England at Chennai in January 1985.
Ramaswamy showed immense mental toughness when he gave Sunil Gavaskar out on 96 in the Gavaskar's final test innings against Pakistan at Bengaluru in March 1987.
Ramaswamy and his fellow partner, Piloo Reporter, became first neutral umpires since 1912 when the duo umpired the second test between Pakistan and West Indies in November 1987.
After officiating the second test between India and New Zealand in November 1988, he took a break from umpiring in test cricket only to return after five years in the second test between India and England in February 1993.
In 1994, Ramaswamy became the first Indian to serve in the international panel of umpires along with Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan in 1994 along with serving ICC Elite panel of Umpires later.
Stats
Ramaswamy supervised 26 test and 43 ODI matches in an illustrated career of almost 30 years. He officiated total nine World Cup matches in the 1987 and 1996 edition.
Controversy
Ramaswamy was allegedly dropped from the ICC panel for his refusal to advocate for a TV replay in a World Cup match of 1996.
Retirement
Ramaswamy bid farewell to his umpiring career in Test cricket after officiating the third Test between India and New Zealand at Ahmedabad in 1999.
Two and half years later, Ramaswamy stood for the final time in international cricket when India took on England in the second ODI at Cuttack in January 2002.
