India paid a heavy price for refusing the usage of the Decision Review System in the ongoing first cricket Test against West Indies with as many as three batsmen falling to dubious decisions which could have gone the visitors’ way had the DRS been in place.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (16), Virat Kohli (15) and Suresh Raina (27) were the three Indian batsmen who could have got a ‘life’ had the DRS been in place to challenge the umpires’ decision.
Kohli was the first one out to a debatable decision by English umpire Ian Gould in consent with Daryl Harper.
A short ball by Fidel Edwards targetting Kohli’s ribs headed down the leg side, and the West Indies’ players appealed for a catch. Although Kohli was not convinced by the umpire’s decision, he could do nothing about it.
Later, Raina was caught by West Indies skipper Darren Sammy off Devendra Bishoo while attempting a sweep shot. Raina indicated that he hadn’t hit the ball but Harper raised the finger nonetheless. However, replays showed there was no glove or bat involved.
It seemed the ball bounced off Raina’s pad, on the way to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh’s thigh pad, and then through to Sammy at leg slip.
Captain Dhoni was equally unlucky as he fell to a no ball.
He top edged a simple catch for Fidel Edwards at square-cover but replays showed that bowler Bishoo’s back foot might have cut the side crease when he got Dhoni out.
The BCCI has opposed DRS vehemently and has refused to allow its usage during the upcoming Test series against England as well.
