Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for incorporating the Decision Review System (DRS) in the ongoing Duleep Trophy. Ashwin highlighted its crucial role in helping young Indian batters improve their technical skills.
Known for his sharp analysis, Ashwin emphasized that DRS can aid batters in identifying and correcting flaws in their technique early in their careers. He referenced the example of Ricky Bhui’s dismissal during a match between India C and India D, where Bhui was initially given not out by the umpire. However, a DRS review showed the ball had hit the bat before the pad, revealing Bhui was indeed out.
Ashwin pointed out that while some batting techniques might work in pre-DRS domestic cricket, they can be problematic at the international level.Specifically, he warned that keeping the bat behind the pad, a common practice, could lead to frequent dismissals. With the help of DRS, players can catch these issues early, refining their skills before moving up to international cricket.
Here’s what Ashwin said about the matter:
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.
He could very well take an entire test series to understand what he needs to work on and his career could well be over.
This is a fab experience for more than just one reason 👏👏 @BCCI
Ashwin noted that in earlier times, players often weren’t dismissed for such technical faults, and without DRS, it could take them an entire series to realize their mistakes. This, he argued, could end promising careers prematurely.
Ashwin believes that introducing DRS in domestic tournaments like the Duleep Trophy is not just about ensuring accurate umpiring but also about providing essential feedback to young batters. He sees this as a vital step by the BCCI in improving the overall quality of batting in Indian cricket.ext
