Mumbai coach Amol Muzumdar calls for usage of DRS in Ranji Trophy knockout games

Mumbai coach Amol Muzumdar has called for the usage of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the Ranji Trophy for the knockout games. The former batter feels that the usage of the technology would take the domestic circuit to a higher level. DRS was last used in Ranji Trophy in the 2019-20 season for the semifinals and finals.

Muzumdar explained that having DRS would remove howlers and also prepare these players to use the technology to its best effect on the international stage. Notably, Muzumdar’s team made the final of the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy season but lost to Madhya Pradesh in the summit clash at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 26, Sunday.

“DRS should be re-introduced (in the Ranji Trophy KOs). It should be used as an additional tool,” Muzumdar told the Times of India. “If you’re talking about taking domestic cricket to another level, you must use it. There are two clear benefits of using DRS in domestic cricket-one is that you will take out the ‘howlers’, the other is that our cricketers will then know how to use DRS to the best effect in international cricket,” he added. 

We were not up to the mark on that day: Amol Muzumdar

Speaking about the Ranji Trophy final, he felt that the first innings total of 374 that Mumbai put up was a good score. For Mumbai, it was Sarfaraz Khan who pulled the strings, as he did throughout the season, with a crucial ton in the first innings. But what did not work in their favour was the third day as they did not pick up enough wickets, opined the Mumbai coach.

“I feel 374 (Mumbai’s first innings total) was a good score. Sarfaraz Khan played an unbelievable knock once again,” said the 47-year-old. “However, we had a ‘tough’ third day when we didn’t pick up wickets, even though we had our bases covered in our bowling department. We were not up to the mark on that day where MP started from 123 for 1 and finished at 368 for 3.”

For Madhya Pradesh, first-innings hundreds from Yash Dubey, Shubham Sharma and Rajat Patidar virtually sealed the deal, as it helped them take a huge lead of 162. Mumbai, with just over a day of play remaining and having to necessarily win the match to clinch the trophy, could only set up a target of 108. Aditya Shrivastava’s men chased it down in 29.5 overs with six wickets in hand to lift the elusive title.