In a first, Ranji Trophy semi-finals and finals to have 'limited' DRS

The caravan of the 2019-20 edition of the Ranji Trophy has moved to its business end with Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka and last seasons’ runner-up Saurashtra making it to the top-4. The semi-final stage will see Gujarat lock horns with Saurashtra in Rajkot and Karnataka taking on Bengal at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

And, in a first, a limited-Decision Review System will be employed during the semi-finals of India’s premier First-Class event. Each innings would have a maximum of reviews- two for each side- will be up for grabs. In case of an on-field decision getting reversed post the referral, it would be counted as a successful review and will not be counted in the overall limit.

That said, HawkEye and Ultra-Edge– the two key components of the DRS along with HotSpot– will not be employed. “First time in Ranji Trophy, Umpire Decision Review System (DRS) is being introduced. Semi-final matches and final match of Ranji Trophy 2019-20 will have the DRS system,” Saurashtra Cricket Association [SCA] said in a press release on Tuesday (February 25).

Saba Karim explains the reason behind not employing DRS in the quarter-finals

The demand for using DRS in knockout stages of Ranji Trophy had increased manyfold after Cheteshwar Pujara wasn’t given caught-behind in the semi-final of the last edition against Karnataka when it was clear that he had edged the ball. Earlier the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators [COA] had approved the decision to implement ‘limited DRS’ in the knockouts. 

However, it wasn’t used in the quarter-finals since all the matches were not televised. Uniformity in using technology is the key, reckons Saba Karim, as the reason behind not using DRS in the quarter-finals.

“We had said that we are exploring the possibility of using the DRS which we have done. We want to bring uniformity to all the teams. That’s why we are trying to initiate it from the semi-finals. In the quarter-finals, all the matches are not going to be televised. So, we possibly couldn’t have brought in DRS,” Saba Karim said as quoted by Times Now.

Karim further revealed that the BCCI is working closely towards improving the quality of Umpiring in domestic cricket.

“We have some good quality umpires officiating in these matches. It is an evolving process and it will take us some time to bring in better quality. But, umpiring standards have definitely improved. We go by the match referee’s report and all umpires are being evaluated and we have graded them in different categories.

We address the issues as and when they come but there’s an education pathway enforced from BCCI and we are doing our level best to improve the quality of umpiring,” he added.

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