The ICC has announced the match officials for the much-awaited Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand, set to take place on March 9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Paul Reiffel and Richard Illingworth will be the on-field umpires, ensuring fair play and compliance with the rules. Joel Wilson will take on the role of TV umpire, making key decisions via video replays, while Kumar Dharmasena will act as the fourth umpire, assisting with on-field support and administrative responsibilities. Ranjan Madugalle has been appointed as the match referee to oversee the smooth conduct of the game.
For Indian cricket fans, Richard Illingworth’s inclusion as an on-field umpire brings mixed emotions. He officiated during “India’s heartbreaking loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.” However, he was also present when India secured victory in the “2024 T20 World Cup final, where India won their first ICC trophy in 11 years.” Additionally, Illingworth officiated India’s group-stage match against New Zealand in Dubai, which saw India win by 44 runs, as well as India’s semifinal clash against Australia.
Australian umpire Paul Reiffel recently officiated the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy, where New Zealand triumphed over South Africa by 50 runs, largely due to remarkable centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
A highly regarded umpire, Richard Illingworth has extensive experience in officiating major tournaments. The upcoming final will mark his “99th ODI as an on-field umpire in his 15-year career.” He has also been named ICC Umpire of the Year four times. His fellow umpire for the final, Paul Reiffel, has also had an illustrious umpiring career, having officiated “95 ODI matches since his umpiring debut in 2009.”
India enters the final as the tournament’s only unbeaten team, making them the favorites. Their confidence will be further boosted by their previous group-stage win over New Zealand, where Varun Chakravarthy’s outstanding five-wicket haul played a key role, alongside crucial contributions from Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel. However, New Zealand will take encouragement from their top-order’s strong form, with Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, and Tom Latham proving to be in excellent touch.