The Decision Review System (DRS) is a technology-based system used in cricket to assist the match officials with their decision-making. On-field umpires may choose to consult with the third umpire, and players may request the third umpire to review the on-field umpires’ decision.
Former India captain MS Dhoni was often credited for his success rate with DRS calls. In fact, Dhoni was so successful with DRS that fans had started addressing it as ‘Dhoni Review System’. However, some might find it surprising that initially, the Ranchi-born cricketer was not a fan of this technology.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra while speaking to Pakistan broadcaster Sawera Pasha in her Youtube chat show ‘Cric Cast’ revealed that Dhoni was not sure about the DRS technology in the beginning. During the chat, Chopra explained why India were reluctant to accept the use of DRS technology.
“India was the first team to use DRS in around 2008 during a series against Sri Lanka. MS Dhoni was not the captain of the team, Anil Kumble was. We took some terrible DRS calls in that series. It was a new thing, and we made poor use of technology. That’s when we decided that we don’t like it. And if we don’t like it, then we won’t use it,” said Chopra.
“Also, MS Dhoni was not a fan of it. The thinking of your team’s captain matters a lot. Dhoni was convinced for the longest time that technology is not full-proof. Even today, it is not full-proof. There are still issues with the umpire’s call; there are still issues with soft-signals. There are still issues, but it was even more back then than it is today,” he added.
Chopra said that unlike MSD, Virat Kohli thinks otherwise. The cricketer-turned-commentator stated that Kohli is a huge fan of technology.
“I have been a fan of DRS from Day 1. If you ask me if you do not embrace technology, then you won’t improve it. But I was not playing back then. The fact is Dhoni didn’t like it one bit. So, if he didn’t like it, India won’t use it. Now things have changed since Kohli has become the captain. He is a huge fan of DRS. He wants DRS in every match – be it IPL, or Ranji match – in any match. Now the thought has changed that embrace the technology, take it forward and make it better,” the 42-year-old added further.
The former Delhi opener also revealed why he started calling DRS as ‘Dhoni Review System’.
“Another strange thing is that Dhoni didn’t like it, but now I call DRS as ‘Dhoni Review System’. Because, if Dhoni said from behind the stumps, that we have to take DRS, then 9 out of 10 times, he gets it right, even when you feel he is making a mistake, he would turn out to be correct,” concluded Chopra.
