At just 15 years old, Anjika Goyal from High Wycombe is already making a name for herself in cricket umpiring, having officiated 15 senior Saturday fixtures this season.

After discovering her interest in umpiring through playing cricket, Anjika has quickly developed her knowledge and confidence, taking on the responsibility of officiating senior matches and earning the respect of players and teams along the way.

Her progress has also opened the door to some incredible opportunities. This summer, Anjika was one of a select few chosen to shadow the officiating team at Lord's during The Hundred, gaining a behind-the-scenes insight into the work that goes into delivering a professional fixture.

With ambitions to become the youngest panel umpire in the country, Anjika is already showing what can be achieved by taking opportunities, building confidence and developing a passion for the game.

We caught up with Anjika to find out more about her journey so far, her experience at Lord's and what she hopes to achieve in the years ahead.

What first made you want to get into umpiring?

My journey started when my mum booked me on an introductory course just to see if I'd like it and to help me learn the official rules, since I've always loved playing the game. I found it really interesting and it completely changed how I understand cricket on the field.

Wanting to take it further, I went on to complete an advanced face-to-face course, and most recently, I passed the MCC online course and test. It's been a great experience, and it's given me a much deeper appreciation for the game.

Had you always been interested in umpiring, or was it something you discovered through playing cricket?

It was something I discovered through playing cricket. I've been playing for a couple of years and wanted to learn more about the game.

Was there someone or something that inspired or encouraged you to give it a go?

My mum, as she signed me up for the course, which then sparked my interest further.

What do you enjoy most about umpiring?

What I enjoy most about officiating is that every single game is different—it always keeps you on your toes.

Beyond learning the rules, it's helped me build key life skills. It has really improved my communication and confidence, while teaching me how to stay calm, patient, and make quick, accurate decisions even in stressful situations.

How does it feel to be umpiring competitive matches at your age?

At the start, it was definitely quite nerve-wracking, especially umpiring adult players. However, throughout this past season, I ended up being the only qualified standing umpire for most of the Saturday men's matches.

Taking on that level of responsibility every week really pushed me out of my comfort zone. It built my confidence massively, and now I feel completely prepared, calm, and ready to tackle even bigger matches next season.

How do players and teams respond when they see you umpiring their matches?

The vast majority of players and teams have responded really positively and have been encouraging throughout matches. Many are genuinely surprised when they find out I'm only 15, and even more so that I'm a young woman umpiring men's cricket.

A great moment for me was during my very first match—the GX team captain was incredibly supportive on the field and gave amazing feedback to the TVL panel afterwards, which boosted my confidence immensely. The teams I've officiated this season have been exceptionally supportive, working with me to keep the game flowing smoothly.

What has been the biggest challenge you've faced so far on your umpiring journey?

The biggest challenge has been overcoming assumptions about my age and experience. Being 15 and officiating adult matches, some players initially assume I lack experience or don’t know the game well enough.

Another major challenge is the physical and mental demand of being the only qualified standing umpire for a full 80-over match. Standing alone at the bowler's end for that duration requires intense, non-stop concentration.

Overcoming this has come down to knowing the MCC Laws inside out, staying calm and professional when questioned, and letting my consistent, fair decision-making earn the players' respect on the field.

You had the opportunity to shadow the officiating team at Lord's this summer. What was that experience like?

A huge highlight for me this summer was being given the opportunity to shadow the officiating team at Lord's during The Women's Hundred match between London Spirit and Southern Brave.

It was such an amazing experience! I got to:

• Shadow the 4th Umpire during the game and learn how all the different umpire roles work behind the scenes.
• Walk the pitch before the game to see how the strip is marked out and checked.
• Be right there at the toss with captains Sophie Molineux and Charlie Dean, and meet players like Lauren Bell and Katie George who showed us how they pick the match balls.
• Sit with the 3rd Umpire to watch how they run DRS reviews, replays, and match timings.
• Help with the match transition, staying all the way through to the men’s game that evening to oversee changing the boundary lengths, ball selection, and the second toss.
• Eat lunch in the Lord’s dining hall with the women's teams!

It was really cool seeing how every single person has such an important job from pre-match setup all the way to the end of the day. Everyone there was so welcoming and supportive. It was an incredible experience where I learned so much.

What would you like to achieve in umpiring over the next five to ten years?

In the future, I would like to be the youngest panel umpire for the country. It would be awesome to do that in the next 5 years.

Finally, what would you say to a young person who is interested in getting involved in umpiring but might not have the confidence to take that first step?

My advice to anyone thinking about embarking on this journey is to take every single opportunity that comes along! Seeing young umpires out on the pitch is super empowering, and it will boost your confidence and help to increase your knowledge of the game.

Chair of the Buckinghamshire Association of Cricket Officials, Yolanda Harris shared high praise: "Anjika shows excellent promise as an umpire. Anjika first came to the notice of the ACO Committee after favourable feedback from Thames Valley League teams. 

"She manages to balance her umpiring and playing extremely well, with her mother and brother frequently attending her matches. 

"I stood with Anjika in regional girls matches, and was impressed with her maturity and her field craft. When the ECB asked for nominations of promising umpires to spend a day at The Hundred, there was no doubt that she  was the obvious choice for Bucks ACO to put forward.

"I am happy to say that the ECB agreed, and she spent a day learning about life as a professional umpire and then watching the men’s match.

"Balancing playing, umpiring and school will be a challenge, as it would for anyone. Nevertheless the ACO has already put Anjika forward to umpire more County Age Group games and we are confident she will umpire higher divisions of Saturday League Cricket next year." 

Inspired by Anjika’s journey and interested in becoming an umpire yourself? Visit our website to find out more about umpiring courses and how to get started: buckscricket.co.uk/pages/umpiring-courses