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Australian umpire Ben Treloar is experiencing the unique challenges of Indian domestic cricket as part of the 2026-27 BCCI-Cricket Australia Umpire Exchange Programme. The award-winning official is officiating in two Ranji Trophy matches in India, while India's Parashar Joshi is set to officiate in the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup in Australia.
In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Treloar spoke about adjusting to unfamiliar conditions, the challenges of officiating on flat Indian pitches, 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 match producing more than 1,100 runs in less than four days.
"It's incredibly challenging to come into a foreign environment. It's first-class cricket here in India. It's been challenging 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 opens up on differences between Indian and Australian pitches
Treloar highlighted the difference between the conditions at the Palam Ground and those typically encountered in Australia. The black-soil surface in Delhi remained low as the match progressed and did not deteriorate significantly, making it a different experience for the umpire.
"This black soil pitch [Palam Ground, Delhi] stayed low as the game progressed and didn't break up at all. Standing at one end for four days with only four overs at the other end was a new experience. In Australia, we change ends within the first couple of days," he said.
The match also gave Treloar a first-hand experience of an unusually high-scoring first-class contest. One team crossed 650 runs, while the opposition responded with a total in excess of 460.
"First time I've umpired an innings where a team scored 650. The other team then scored 460-odd. While it may be flat, that doesn't mean it's easy," he added.
The weather, meanwhile, made his introduction to Indian conditions more comfortable than he had anticipated. Treloar was pleased with the temperatures and light breeze during the match.
"30-31 degrees, light breeze. Very similar to home. A perfect introduction rather than 38 degrees and 100% humidity," he said.
Treloar impressed by the accuracy of Indian spinners
The Australian umpire also praised the quality of Indian spinners, particularly their accuracy and skill. He observed that spin became more prominent as the match progressed, especially in the second innings.
"We had quite a bit of spin this week, more in the second innings. The spinners here are incredibly gifted. Their art is honed, they are very accurate," Treloar said.
He explained that Australian conditions generally favour fast bowlers because of the extra bounce and grass on the pitches. As a result, spinners often play a more prominent role later in matches.
"In Australia, we generally see more quicks because conditions have more bounce and grass, so spinners come in later. I was really looking forward to being put under pressure by spinners here. In Mumbai, with red soil, I expect more bounce and turn," he added.
Treloar is also looking forward to experiencing the conditions in Mumbai, where the red-soil surface could offer a different combination of bounce and turn compared to the black-soil pitch in Delhi.
'When I got the call to come to India, it meant a lot'
Treloar described the exchange programme as a significant opportunity for umpires to develop their skills by working in unfamiliar environments. He said the chance to officiate in India was particularly meaningful, given the importance of the country's domestic 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 recalled working alongside Karnataka umpire Abhijit Bengeri, who travelled to Australia last year and officiated matches at venues including the WACA and the Gabba.
"He came to Australia and experienced pace at the WACA and then the Gabba. He performed incredibly well. We umpires still talk about how well he fitted in. It's an incredible opportunity," Treloar said.
The exchange programme allows officials from both countries to experience different playing conditions, helping them adapt to the demands of international-standard cricket across different environments.
Ben Treloar recalls nerves before Ranji Trophy debut
Despite his experience as an umpire, Treloar admitted to feeling some nerves ahead of his first Ranji Trophy assignment. However, he described the feeling as positive anticipation rather than anxiety.
"Oh yeah, slightly. Good nerves, anticipation. We came four days early to acclimatise. Driving to the ground on day one, I was excited. Once that first over is done, you're into another game of cricket, trying to be fair to all players," he said.
He also credited the welcoming atmosphere among the match officials for helping him settle into his new environment. Treloar praised the support he received from the team of officials during his assignment.
"We had a great PCT with Vinod, Arjun and the match referee. So welcoming. It made for a seamless transition," he added.
