Decision Review System turning out to be Dismal Review System for India

Before the opening Test against Australia, Virat Kohli was going on a record-breaking spree as a captain of the Test team which saw India remaining unbeaten for the last 19 Tests. During that period India inflicted comprehensive series victories on South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand and England. But one thing which hasn’t been Kohli’s cup of tea is the Decision Review System. India has taken some dubious reviews which have cost them dearly in the long run.

Before the start of the limited-overs series against England, Kohli had given an indication that he will be seeking MS Dhoni’s suggestion on taking the reviews. It clearly showed that Kohli was apprehensive while reviewing an umpiring decision. The BCCI was reluctant to use the DRS for a long time before it was eventually implemented it during the Test series against England on a trial basis. But after the end of the seven Tests, the result of the reviews taken by India shows a rather sad story.

Out of 55 referrals taken, India has correctly reviewed only 17 times including batting and fielding which makes a success rate of only 30.9%. In some cases, it has been a clear act of desperation which was on display during the opening Test against Australia in Pune. Both openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul went for horrendous reviews which meant India lost all their reviews with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane still in the hut.

It didn’t cost India in the end as they folded out for a paltry 107 but it would have been a big call if Kohli had gone on to score a century and he got a howler after that. India’s record while reviewing a decision has been better while batting than fielding. During fielding, they have taken only 10 correct reviews out of 42 while during batting the rate is higher with 7 from 13.

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Though the final decision to go for a review is taken by the captain but the influence of wicket-keeper and close-in fielders plays a very important role. Wriddhiman Saha hasn’t been one of the best deputies for Kohli while calling a review which has hurt India in the long run. While Saha rightly suggested Kohli to go for a review when he was given out on-field on 180 during the Bangladesh Test, Saha’s suggestion behind the wickets hasn’t been correct on most occasions.

Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta who now an analyst believes DRS should only be used to get rid of umpiring howlers in the game. “DRS should be strictly used for howlers. And it is a tool to help umpires be as accurate as possible. For me an umpire’s call should only be challenged in case of leg before if a player is absolutely sanguine that he has had an inside edge onto the pads,” Dasgupta was quoted as saying by PTI.

“Every batsman knows if he has had an edge or not. So if anyone thinks that ball tracker will help him, he should get the concept right. As far as fielding team’s referrals are concerned, the wicketkeeper should be the DRS captain. He should be assertive enough if need be to tell the skipper that don’t go for it. The keeper’s conviction makes it easier for the skipper,” he further added.

During their disastrous performance in Pune, India wasted all their 4 reviews during fielding and got only one correct out 3 while batting.

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