India’s Stand on DRS Unchanged but Hint at Scope for Discussion

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday said its stand on DRS remained unchanged but it was open to “discussions internally”.

The fact that BCCI is open to “discussions internally” indicates a significant change from the former BCCI chief N. Srinivasan’s era. He had referred to DRS as “a faulty system” in October 2013.

In a media release, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Jagmohan Dalmiya said “It is clarified that the stand taken on the Decision Review System (DRS) by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains the same as on date.”

India continue to oppose the use of DRS in bilateral series so far but they are ready to debate about it indicated Dalmiya.

“But that does not mean we would not be open to discussions internally on whether the DRS could be used partially or in its modified version during bilateral series,” said Dalmiya.

BCCI will look forward to know the opinions of the Cricket Advisory Committee on the same as Dalmiya signalled “However, since the issue involves technical aspects, views of the Cricket Advisory Committee could also be obtained by BCCI on the subject”.

This is what Virat Kohli had to say after India’s only test match against Bangladesh ended in a tame draw, skipper Kohli said about the use of DRS: “You have to sit and analyse and ask the bowlers what they feel about it. Ask the batters what they feel about that.”
“We literally just came into this Test match with very less time on hand. So, now that we have time, I am sure these discussions will take place,”added Kohli

It seems as if the Indian think tanks are racing their minds over the issue and even though their stand hasn’t changed from what it was during Srinivasan’s reign, but surely the approach has been better as there seems to be a scope for healthy discussion on the issue.