Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised the introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the ongoing domestic cricket season, citing its potential to improve batters’ techniques. Ashwin’s comments came in light of the ongoing first round of the 2024 Duleep Trophy, where DRS has been made available for matches in Bengaluru (India A vs. India B) and Anantapur (India C vs. India D).
Ashwin emphasized how DRS can refine players’ skills by pointing out a particular instance involving India D batter Ricky Bhui. During day two of the Anantapur match, Bhui was dismissed lbw by India C’s left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.
Initially, the on-field umpire ruled it not out, but the decision was overturned after India C captain Ruturaj Gaikwad opted for the DRS. Ashwin highlighted that Bhui’s technique of keeping the bat behind the pad contributed to his dismissal, demonstrating how DRS can help batters adjust their playing style.
Ashwin said: “DRS for domestic cricket is not just for the right decisions to be made. Ricky Bhuvi’s dismissal last evening against Manav Suthar is a classic case of a batter who will get away with this technique 10/10 times in FC cricket. This was not a faulty technique pre DRS but now it is.”
“Back in the day batters were given not out just because they managed to get on the front foot. Now, keeping your bat behind the pad can be fatal, imagine someone making the climb to international cricket without getting this experience Ricky got yesterday.”
Shreevats Goswami, a former India A, U-19, and Bengal wicketkeeper-batter, also weighed in on the matter on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), expressing his support for the use of DRS in domestic cricket. He stressed the importance of full DRS in the Ranji Trophy, pointing out that several careers have been shaped or impacted by poor umpiring decisions in the past. According to Goswami, DRS would not only aid in correcting errors but also enable batters, bowlers, and captains to play more freely and with confidence.
The DRS’s inclusion in domestic competitions like the Duleep Trophy is seen as a progressive step in Indian cricket, aligning it with international standards. The technology can help reduce umpiring errors and provide players with the opportunity to refine their techniques by facing more accurate judgments.
Ashwin is expected to return to the field soon, as India gears up for its home Test series against Bangladesh, followed by matches against New Zealand. The season will culminate with the much-anticipated five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, scheduled from November 22, 2024, to January 7, 2025.
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