Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli in favour of DRS

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli gave thumps to the Decision Review System (DRS) on Friday, indicating that the cricketing powerhouse might finally embrace the technology to curb down umpiring howlers.

It was actually pretty difficult to convince India to embrace the DRS after a bitter experience in Sri Lanka in 2008. Finally, it was agreed by the BCCI that they would be using the DRS only on a trial basis in the ongoing India-England Test series.

Though Kohli was not wise enough while deciding which decision to review, he sounded pretty confident ahead of the 3rd Test scheduled to begin in Mohali on Saturday.

“I’m pretty happy with it…I think it is pretty fair for the game,” Kohli told reporters at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium on Friday.

BCCI had been very fussy about the ball tracking technology but agreed to go on with it following a presentation which was given to them by the officials from the ICC.

Kohli was impressed with the technology and said it helped to improve leg before decision without taking away the authority from the umpires.

“…they (umpires) are the people given the job to make decisions and their call is respected even in the DRS. I think that’s pretty fair,” Kohli said.

“If it is really, really off target, then DRS corrects it but if it is marginal, then you got to respect the umpire’s call. That’s all it does.

“I think it clarifies the decision that is made on the field. I think that’s absolutely fine.”

The Men in Blue are yet to come to terms with the technology. Speaking on this matter Kohli said, “We as a team have only played two test matches with DRS and I can’t analyse the progress in a span of eight days. It is a pretty fair thing to have happened and we are going to get better with using it, for sure.”

It was during the 2nd Test at Vizag when teenager Haseeb Hameed insisted Alastair Cook to review a not out decision of Lokesh Rahul while fielding at short-leg and the decision was eventually overturned by the 3rd umpire.

“Obviously, the wicketkeeper and the bowler are the main people involved, who have the best sight of where the ball hit the pad or if they heard a sound of the bat,” Kohli said.

“The close-in fielders as well play a massive role as well, as you saw with KL’s (Rahul) dismissal. It was Hameed who actually convinced the bowler that he heard something which someone else might not have,” Kohli concluded.