Harbhajan Singh expressed doubts about the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket, stating that while he acknowledges the value of technology in advancing the game, he remains unconvinced of DRS accuracy.
In a recent IPL 2024 match between RCB and KKR, controversy arose over Virat Kohli’s dismissal off Harshit Rana’s full toss, sparking debate about the reliability of technology. The Hawk-Eye system, newly introduced in the league, led to divided opinions, with some arguing the delivery was a no-ball while others deemed it fair.
Harbhajan Singh, not fully convinced of the technology’s accuracy, criticized the DRS system’s tendency to give batters not out if the ball marginally touches the stumps. He shared his concerns on the inaugural episode of the podcast “180 Not Out,” questioning the DRS’s ability to accurately judge ball bounce.
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“The technology is a good thing if you bring it into the game if you want to advance the game, you also see the inclination of people that yes, brother, the ball is hitting the stump or not. I’m not fully, you know, inclined towards this because it cannot accurately judge the bounce of the ball,” Harbhajan said.
“Aur ek aur chiz hai jo mujhe khatakti hai, wo ye hai ki jab hum mohalle me cricket khelna shuru karte hain, hume dikhaya jata hai ye wicket hai, wicket pe ball lagi to out hai. Itni lagi ya itni lagi, out hai. Agar stump pe ball lagi, chu ke gayi, ya poori lagi, wo out hai. ( And another thing that bothers me is that when we start playing cricket in the neighborhood, we are shown that this is the wicket, if the ball hits the wicket, it’s out. Whether it hits this much or that much, it’s out. If the ball hits the stumps, even if it just brushes them or hits them fully, it’s out.) ” he continued.
“Aur agar umpire ne chooti hui ball ko not out de dia to ye not out kaise hai? Fir aap DRS ko kyu istemaal kar rahe ho jab DRS dikha raha hai ki stump pe ball lag rahi hai to it should be given out then. Aap technology ko laa bhi rahe ho aur uski baat bhi nahi maan rahe. (And if the umpire has declared a missed ball as not out, then how is it not out? Then why are you using DRS when DRS is showing that the ball is hitting the stumps, so it should be given out then? You are bringing technology, but you are not even accepting its verdict.)” Harbhajan added.
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However, former India fast bowler S Sreesanth expressed a favorable stance on technology, wishing it had been available during his playing days to aid in getting more wickets. He acknowledged its potential benefits but advised against complete dependence, emphasizing the importance of wise usage and adaptation to change.
Last Updated on April 22, 2024
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