Veteran Indian spinner R Ashwin recently shared his thoughts on the impact of the Decision Review System (DRS) in domestic cricket, particularly in light of Ricky Bhui’s dismissal against Manav Suthar in the ongoing Duleep Trophy match between India C and India D. The second day of this four-day fixture saw bowlers taking center stage, with Suthar impressively claiming seven wickets, five of which came in the final session of the day.
Ravichandran Ashwin used this opportunity to underscore how DRS is transforming batting techniques and why it’s crucial for domestic players to get accustomed to this technology. He emphasized that DRS serves a purpose beyond merely making accurate decisions; it plays a significant role in evolving batting strategies.
Ashwin noted that Bhui’s dismissal was a prime example of how batting techniques that were once effective in first-class cricket are now under scrutiny thanks to DRS. In the pre-DRS era, batters would frequently adopt a front-foot stance to avoid being given out lbw, as umpires were less likely to dismiss a batter when leaning forward in defence. However, with the introduction of DRS, any on-field decision can be challenged, with ball-tracking technology ensuring a more accurate outcome.
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“DRS for domestic cricket is not just about ensuring the right decisions are made. Ricky Bhui’s dismissal against Manav Suthar is a perfect example of a batter who would have previously escaped such a dismissal in first-class cricket. This technique was not faulty before DRS, but now it is,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained on X.
DRS for domestic cricket is not just for the right decisions to be made.
Ricky Bhuvi’s dismissal last evening against Manav Suthar is a classic case of a batter who will get away with this technique 10/10 times in FC cricket.
This was not a faulty technique pre DRS but now it… pic.twitter.com/Ip2BXHgJBe
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 7, 2024
The 37-year-old spinner highlighted the importance of exposing emerging cricketers to DRS in domestic matches. He argued that without such exposure, players might struggle at the international level, which could potentially harm their careers. Ashwin pointed out that in the past, batters were often given not out if they managed to get on the front foot. Now, however, keeping the bat behind the pad can lead to disastrous outcomes.
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“Imagine a player reaching international cricket without experiencing what Ricky did yesterday. They might take an entire Test series to understand what adjustments they need to make, which could jeopardize their career. This experience is invaluable for more reasons than one,” Ravichandran Ashwin concluded.
