Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fast bowler, Harshal Patel is not convinced with the DRS which is set to be implemented in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). The 16th edition of the cash-rich league will be commencing on Friday, March 31 when the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be locking horns with the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

DRS for wides and (waist-high) no-balls was initiated during the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and it will be applicable for IPL 2023 as well. But the RCB pacer believes that the system might affect the accuracy of decisions. While speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Harshal opined that the DRS calls for wides and no-balls will be expected to fall in grey area due to various factors.

During the conversation, Harshal Patel said, “Technology can definitely be helpful in situations where you can separate black and white. But these balls are always going to be grey, especially wide-ball lines. Because you can’t really judge how much the batter has moved, whether the ball was within his reach, the angle of the delivery.”

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Harshal Patel reveals the various factors that define a wide or a no-ball. He said that there will be a huge difference in a right-hander bowling from over the wicket and a left-hander bowling from around the wicket. He also added that when a right-handed batter tries to reach the ball bowled by a southpaw bowler from over the wicket, an angle of deviation is created which could hamper the decision made by the umpire.

Harshal Patel argued, “There’s going to be a huge difference in where the ball finishes between a right-hander bowling the same (ball) a couple of inches outside the wide line and a left-hander bowling from over the stumps a couple of inches outside the wide line. When the (right-hand) batter tries to reach, it’s always going to be wider when he plays the left-hander, (and) it’s always going to be closer when he plays the right-hander.”

The 32-year-old said that it is impossible to consider all these factors while making decisions since it needs more time. However, he added that this review system can make this worse. 

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Explaining it further Harshal Patel said, “I don’t know how many of these factors will be taken into account when making decisions. Obviously, they can’t take a lot of these factors into account because that will consume a lot of time. In my humble opinion, this doesn’t solve the problem. You have to call it the human factor in the game and move on.”

RCB will be coming into the 2023 IPL with an aim to win their maiden title. Under the captaincy of Faf du Plessis, the Bangalore-based franchise will be commencing their IPL 2023 campaign against the five-time champions Mumbai Indians on April 2 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.