Tapan Sharma of Udaipur, who works as a Manager with the State Bank of India in Vadodra, has not let his professional commitment dampen his passion for Cricket. He has followed his interest in Umpiring when he has free time.

Tapan has been inducted into the panel of umpires at the ongoing IPL, the matches of which are being played in Mumbai and Pune.  This is Tapan's umpiring schedule:

• 7 April - LSG vs DC
• 10 April - RR vs LSG
• 21 April - MI vs CSK
• 25 April - PBSK vs CSK
• 15 May - LSG vs RR
• 21 May - MI vs DC

This is the second season of the IPL that Tapan has been selected in the umpiring panel. Umpiring has been a journey across two generations for Tapan. His father, Balwant Sharma and elder brother Kamlesh Sharma have also been on the umpring panel at the national level.

Tapan's journey from Bank to Umpire

Tapan did engineering from MBM college, Jodhpur. While studying, he was selected by Neyveli Lignite, Chennai. He left the job as it made him disconnect with cricket.

In 2002, he passed the Bank PO exam. Currently he is working as a Regional Manager of SBI in Baroda. In 1993, he cleared State Level Umpire Panel Exam. He manages to do the practice & umpiring in 45 days received from bank for National Duty Sports.

Past Umpiring Experiences

Tapan did umpiring in IPL 2021. Also in 2013,  Tapan did umpiring in Australia’s Tour of India & Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. He has also umpired in Women’s International Cricket & Under-19 Cricket. Currenlty he is in the senior panel of Umpires Board.

Good at Decision Making

Tapan was the topper of BCCI Umpiring exam in 2006. He himself was a player at University & State Level. Born in 1975, Tapan is also a right hand batsman and a medium fast bowler. His father, Balwant Sharma, mentioned that from childhood he has been good at decision making & it’s not easy to manage both job & passion together. He faces lot of challenges to do umpiring for such big & expensive matches.

Format of IPL is shorter, just 20 overs, in comparison to Ranji or ODI where one has to stand whole day. He maintains his fiteness & practices along with his job. He manages practice in free time or during holidays.