CHENNAI:The first instance when Virat Kohli might have rued the unavailability of decision reviewing system was in Jacques Kallis’ farewell Test, in Durban the year before. He was faultily adjudged caught behind off a Dale Steyn bouncer in the second innings, with India battling to force a draw. And in no less discreet manner did Kohli remonstrate.
But his skipper MS Dhoni was unmoved and unconvinced of DRS’ merits. He always was a vocal dissenter, though early last year he had expressed his willingness to accept DRS if the “umpire’s call part was scrapped”. The then BCCI powers-to-be duly backed and chorused him.
But his successor in Tests, Kohli, differs. He is not entirely dismissive of the DRS. “You have to sit and analyse and ask the bowlers what they feel about it. Ask the batsmen what they feel about that. We literally just came into this Test match with very less time on hand. So now that we have time, I am sure these discussions will take place,” Kohli said after the Fatullah Test.
While this shouldn’t be taken as a full-on endorsement of the much-debated DRS and making it mandatory, it does suggest that Kohli has a more compromising stand on the DRS than his predecessor.
But even six years after it was initiated, the DRS polarises opinions. Many, like former pacer TA Sekhar are still apprehensive. “It’s 50-50. I think the DRS should be used for certain decision, like to see whether a catch is taken cleanly or whether there has been a snick or not,” he opined.
Snicko or Hotspot would have reversed Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal — adjudged caught at short-leg, though replays showed there wasn’t any bat — in the heady run chase at Adelaide.
Earlier, in the same innings, Dhawan was given out caught behind, though replays showed the ball had grazed only his shoulder. In Brisbane, Cheteshwar Pujara was given caught behind, when the ball had only brushed his helmet grille.
Even as Hotspot and Snicko have won some backers — most notably Sachin Tendulkar — Hawk-Eye continues to be derided by experts. “It can’t judge swing or spin. It cannot factor in variables like the bounce, which varies from surface to surface and from day to day. It shouldn’t be used unless it’s 100 per cent foolproof,” he observed.
However, former opener Chetan Chauhan believes it’s time India welcomed DRS. “You don’t want to lose out on key moments due to umpiring errors. I am a fan of DRS from the beginning. Let’s use it in its current form and let the technical team work on it to make it even better,” he opined.
Now the dangling question is whether the BCCI would approve of the system if Kohli and his teammates are convinced of DRS. Early this month, ICC CEO Dave Richardson had said that the BCCI still had reservations about the system, as they feel, “it’s against the spirit of the game”.
BCCI, meanwhile, maintain they will stand by the players’ consensus. “Whether it’s DRS or not , we always stand by them. So if they tell us they want DRS, we are willing too, though that won’t happen overnight. Moreover, we have to discuss with the broadcasters, who presently don’t have the tools. If they also agree, we will put this for discussion in the working committee meeting,” said a top BCCI official. Whatever, Kohli has reopened the DRS debate. And already, he has underlined, may be not intentionally, that he is antithetical to Dhoni in spirit and outlook.
