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5 instances when Team India paid the price for BCCI's reluctance to use DRS

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have different opinions on the effectiveness of DRS

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln

If one were attempting to explain BCCI’s aversion towards the Decision Review System (DRS), then there is no need to look further than the former US President’s iconic quote. At a time when even financially challenged cricket boards are making earnest efforts to use technology and reduce the pressure on umpires, the most powerful organization is searching for reasons to do the opposite.

Admittedly, the DRS is not completely fool-proof and has had its fair share of controversies as well. However, the system needs every possible way to evolve, especially given that almost every single umpiring howler cannot go unnoticed in the modern era.

Let us go through five such instances when the absence of DRS stood in the way of Team India from taking control of key matches.


#5 – George Bailey’s glove in the 1st ODI against Australia at Perth, 2016

George Bailey
Bailey added insult to injury with his post-match statements

India were playing their opening international fixture in 2016 and things began promisingly with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli powering them to a massive total in the first ODI against Australia on a seemingly flat Perth pitch.

Debutante left-arm seamer Barinder Sran had the Aussies on the mat with an impactful new-ball effort. The explosive duo of Aaron Finch and David Warner were sent back in quick succession without any trouble.

When an edgy George Bailey gloved a stifling delivery to MS Dhoni, the home team could have been 21/3 inside the first five overs with a fragile middle-order in the shed. But, the usually spot-on Richard Kettleborough did not raise his finger and Bailey teamed up with skipper Steve Smith to help his team cruise to the total with a century.

While the Tasmanian aggravated the Indian team’s frustration with his cheeky remarks, Dhoni still felt that DRS was not reliable and instead directed the blame on the umpire. In the end, the visitors would go down 1-4 in the ODI series. But, a victory in the first match might have set the tone for better returns.

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