Indian umpires hone their review skills

NEW DELHI: Long opposed to the Decision Review System (DRS), the Indian board is trying to embrace technology wholeheartedly by asking its select umpires to get a first-hand experience of its implementation.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) accepted the BCCI’S request to let three of its match officials in the international panel to sit with the TV umpire during the ongoing Test series against England.

The ‘shadow umpire’ role in the Mohali Test has been given to Sri Lanka’s Kumar Dharmasena, the third umpire. SS Shamsuddin and C Nandan will join the third umpire in Mumbai and Chennai respectively, during the final two Tests.

USING THE CHANCE

“We are using DRS first time in India and so we thought our International panel umpires, who normally are deputed for other series, should use this opportunity. So, whenever the opportunity comes, they will be ready,” MV Sridhar, BCCI General Manager (Cricket Operations), told HT.

India were the first to get a feel Lanka, but refused to accept it as they felt the technology, particu larly for ball-tracking, was not 100 %. However, they have come around following improvements made by the governing body in the technology now being used

Skipper Virat Kohli backed the referral system ahead of the Mohali Test. “I am pretty happy with it (DRS). It just confirms the decision that’s been made on the field,” he said. “If you want to challenge the umpire, it’s not just you telling him that he could have made a different decision you have the option of checking it again and figuring out if it is wrongorright Itisprettyfairfor

REUTERS India skipper Virat Kohli (right) is still learning the ropes. There has been criticism that he and Ashwin have been deciding on using the DRS on their own, without consulting teammates.