'When India Play In India There Is A Lot of Hype...' - Nitin Menon

image-liza3we2Nitin Menon [Image- Twitter]

Indian Umpire Nitin Menon is all set to officiate in the ongoing Ashes series in the UK later this month. Menon will be officiating in the last three Tests between England and Australia this summer. The Indian official has come a long way in the past three years.

Officiating in Indian matches at home is not an easy task, especially on the kind of the pitches that India have played in the last 2 years, but, according to Menon, it is this stern examination that has helped him get ready to the upcoming overseas challenges.

In an interview with PTI, Menon opened up about his journey to becoming a part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, and how handling Indian superstars has helped him get better at handling pressure.

"It has been an amazing experience working in Indian sub-continent in the first two years, doing Test matches and then getting to officiate in T20 World Cups in Australia and Dubai. I am working with best match officials and players has added to my umpiring experience. I have learnt a lot about my own character, how I behave under pressure, so lots of positive."

''When India play in India there is a lot of hype, lot of big stars in the Indian team they always try to create pressure on you, they always try to get those 50-50 decisions in favour of them but if we are in control of ourselves under pressure, then we don't focus on what they are trying to do."

"It just shows that I am strong enough to handle any situation rather than getting working up by the pressure created by players. That has given me a lot of self-confidence.''

Menon officiatated in the last T20 World Cup in Australia, and he was also a part of the Test series between England and South Africa in the UK last summer.