He can spot an offender in a crowd of 1000. Just as he can detect a faint snick to the wicketkeeper! Different jobs but both based on sound judgment. “It comes from concentration and, of course, experience,” says K. Hariharan, an international cricket umpire who works with the Customs Department, posted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
It has been an eventful journey for Hari, who left Madras in 1976 and joined the Air Force; retired from the Air Force and joined Customs; started off as an off-spinner and took to umpiring. “I love cricket. I don't play but I am associated with the game as intensely as anyone. Being an umpire is tough, but I like being tough.”
Turning out for the Adambakkam Cricket Club in Madras was his first step towards pursuing his dream. Gururajan, who worked with The Hindu , was Hari's mentor. “He is my guru. When TNCA (Tamil Nadu Cricket Association) invited young cricketers to become umpires, Mr. Gururajan pushed me. He brought the forms and took classes in the evening. He taught me the rule. I owe my umpiring career to him.”
He first stood in a Ranji Trophy match in 1991 and made an impression with his near flawless work. Hari's international debut at Goa (December 28, 1997) was a tough one. His partner, R. C. Sharma, had a bad game as Sri Lanka beat India by five wickets. That Hari managed to stay focused helped him grow as an umpire. Sharma passed away two years later and Hari still remembers his partner fondly. “Any umpire can have an off-day. It is not possible to always give correct decisions. One can make human errors. I have also made. But that has never deterred me from giving my best.”
Has the status of the umpires improved? “Earlier they were mostly looked down upon, considered as someone just needed for the match. The perspective has changed now.”
What does he do when he realises he has made a mistake? “It is only when you see the replays later that you spot the mistakes. On the field you have made a decision that seems perfect, and mind you, we (on-field umpires) don't have the luxury of watching replays in slow motion and then give a ruling.” Assistance from the TV umpire is a welcome aspect but on-field umpires are subjected to immense pressure.
“Pressure,” says Hari, is “unavoidable. It comes from various quarters but one has to learn to manage these pressures. For an umpire, pressure comes with the job. I learnt to manage it through self-discipline and self-talk. If I feel I have made a mistake, I try and remember the good decisions that I would have made. Pressure can come from the fielding side constantly, repeated appealing, players coming and arguing. One has to keep a cool mind, be polite but firm. As an umpire, we can't show our feelings, whether anger or joy.” To keep his focus right, Hari learnt yoga at the Isha Foundation. “It has done wonders.”
He recalls with pride the India-Pakistan ODI at Kolkata in 2004. “I did the match with Simon (Taufel). The atmosphere was electric and the expectations very high. An India-Pakistan match can drain you because the pressure is tremendous. I was happy with my work.” The captains' report made him happier. Sourav Ganguly and Inzamam-ul-Haq had given him 100 per cent in their evaluation.
If Ganguly made his Test debut at Lord's (in 1996) and excelled with a century, Hari was not far behind. In 2005, he ‘wore' his Test hat at Lord's when officiating the Bangladesh-England match. A pity, he has stood in just one more Test. “That is my only regret. I did not get a fair opportunity in the Elite Panel.”
His biggest source of strength, and critic, is wife Latha. “She is my best judge and supporter too. Every match that I stand in, she makes notes of the comments that are made by the experts. At the end of the day's play, she gives me her appraisal. I value it a lot. This is the best feedback I can have on my performance apart from what the experts observe.” He also acknowledges the support from his department. “Without the encouragement of my seniors in office, I would not have been able to come this far.”
Hari's son, Vinay, who played under-15 for Uttar Pradesh as an off-spinner, is studying engineering and daughter Shivapriya, recently married, will make Canada her new home. For Hari, Delhi is home. “I never felt like an outsider here. When I first came to Delhi, it was not so noisy but the traffic has grown and that is the only minus point of this great city. There is less pollution, much greenery, people are nice and the place has a great culture and history. The eating joints are just awesome, especially our club (Airport Authority of India Club). If only it could be safer for women and senior citizens.”
A teetotaller and strict vegetarian, Hari, 56, added a feather to his achievements this year when the Board of Control for Cricket in India adjudged him the best domestic umpire for 2009-10.
A veteran of 34 ODIs, he stood in one of the semi-finals and the final of the Ranji Trophy this season apart from officiating in the Irani Cup. But it was not good enough for Hari to gain a nomination to the International Panel.
A day after the nominations were announced, he officiated in a local match in searing heat. “I love this job,” he concludes.
