Like players, umpires also do well when in form and I want to make the most of it: Nitin Menon

Umpire Nitin Menon was certainly one of the standout performers from the recently-concluded series between India and England. The ICC Elite Panel umpire was spot on with his decisions, making captains from both the teams think twice before sending his calls for reviews using DRS.

Nitin Menon became the youngest umpire to be part of the ICC Elite Panel and he showcased his class by being accurate in the Test series and the limited-overs series that followed.

As many as 40 referrals were taken against his decisions and only 5 were upheld during the 10 matches in India-England series. 23 referrals against Menon were struck down while 12 of them were the umpire's call.

In a staggering indication of his accuracy, 35 referrals were made against his LBW decisions and only 2 of them were overturned.

Menon is currently in quarantine in Chennai ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and the seasoned umpire is looking to make the most of his form. Yes, you read that right, Menon believes, much like players, umpires too have form.

"The last two months have been great. It gives one great satisfaction when people notice and appreciate your good work. This series was always going to be a very challenging one because of the hype associated with it - a place in the World Test Championship final at stake, both teams coming back from impressive overseas wins, challenging pitches to officiate on," Menon told the Press Trust of India.

"As for the white-ball series, it was between the two top-ranked teams in the world. Taking all these factors into consideration, I am pleased that we did well as an umpiring team," he added.

'Umpiring all about mental toughness'

In a normal scenario, Menon won't get to officiate in back to back games over two months. So, how did he cope up with high-pressure scenarios match after match?

"I believe umpiring is all about mental toughness. More the pressure better is the focus. If we can give our best performances when we are under pressure, that is the true reflection of how strong we are mentally.

"It's not new for me to officiate in back-to-back matches, thanks to the amount of domestic cricket organised in India. On an average, we do eight four-day first-class games on the trot in Ranji Trophy, with travel in between from one venue to another.

"Even in the IPL, we do around 14-16 games without a break, so all this experience has really helped me in this series. Like players, umpires also have form. I always feel that when in good form, I should do the maximum number of games without any break," he added.

With his consistent performances, Menon has got closer than ever to his dream assignment -- the Ashes -- but for that to happen, the Covid-19 related restrictions have to ease.

Bip-bubble very challenging: Menon

After two months of non-stop umpiring, Menon got only a couple of days at home before he left for Chennai ahead of the IPL, pretty much from one bio-bubble to another.

The bio-secure life has been tough on the players and Menon finds it equally challenging for the match officials.

"It is very challenging. It is tougher on off days because we cannot go out of the hotel. This is where having a good team atmosphere becomes crucial. We are like a family in the bubble. We have to look after each other, make sure our colleagues are in the right frame of mind, help them out, meet as often as possible and spend time together."