Will discuss DRS usage with team: Kohli

The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has always been against the use of DRS in matches, but Indian Test captain Virat Kohli said he is open to discussing its usage with his team.

“You have to sit and analyse and ask the bowlers what they feel about it. Ask the batters what they feel about that,” Kohli was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo on Sunday. “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.”

At the moment, India is the only team who insist on not using the DRS in a series, but things appear to be changing. Last year, Kohli’s predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni had hinted on the possibility of India changing their mind about the DRS if it would assess an appeal independently and not try to “justify” the on-field umpire’s call.

In October 2013, then BCCI president N. Srinivasan had dubbed DRS “a faulty system.” However, the reconsideration by the team indicates a changing mentality.

Earlier this month, International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Dave Richardson said the BCCI doesn’t want the DRS because it goes “against the spirit of cricket.”

The ICC argued that the heavy criticism of the umpires and teams threatening to leave a series due to umpiring are reasons to consider the DRS. “We have always said that we would like to have the same rules for everybody as far as DRS is concerned and implement it on a uniform, consistent basis,” said Richardson.

“The fact is though one of our members doesn’t want DRS, they have a number of concerns regarding DRS. The major one being in their view the principle of a player reviewing an umpire’s decision goes against the grain of what the spirit of cricket is all about,” he said. Richardson added that the ICC is testing the technology to make it more accurate and reliable. He was confident that through these processes, the BCCI will agree on the DRS.