Umpiring has been a hot topic of debate in the ongoing India vs England Test series (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025). From the very first match, the umpires have been under the scanner for almost every decision they have made. Frequent ball changes and outbursts from players like Rishabh Pant, Chris Woakes, Shubman Gill, and others have further intensified the controversies surrounding umpiring in this series. With the series standing at 2-1 and the final match set to be played at The Oval, the apex cricket body, ICC, has announced the names of the umpires and other match officials for the 5th Test.
Pakistan-born umpire Ahsan Raza, who officiated in the 4th Test, has again been appointed as one of the on-field umpires for the 5th Test. He will be accompanied by veteran Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena, who will share the on-field duties. Dharmasena served as the TV umpire in the previous match. Jeff Crowe is set to continue as the match referee, the same role he held in the last Test. Rod Tucker, who was one of the on-field umpires in the 4th Test, has been appointed as the TV umpire for the 5th Test.
IND vs ENG 5th Test 2025 – Match Officials
| Role | Name | Nationality | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahsan Raza | On-field Umpire | Pakistani | 22 Tests as On-field Umpire |
| Kumar Dharmasena | On-field Umpire | Sri Lankan | 91 Tests as On-field Umpire |
| Rod Tucker | TV Umpire | Australian | 40 Tests as TV Umpire |
| Jeff Crowe | Match Referee | New Zealander | 129 Test Matches as Referee |
The 5th Test match between India and England is scheduled to be played at The Oval in London. The match has already become controversial after a heated spat between Gautam Gambhir and the pitch curator went viral on the internet. Cricket fans and experts will keep a close eye on every ball of the 5th Test, and the umpires will be under pressure to make the right decisions. Ahsan Raza displayed commendable umpiring in the 4th Test, and the same is expected from him in the 5th Test. On the other hand, Kumar Dharmasena is a seasoned umpire whose decisions are rarely wrong.