Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat backs inclusion of DRS in domestic cricket after controversial Ranji semifinal

Saurashtra on Monday made the final of the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 beating Karnataka by 5 wickets in the second semi-final at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru which proved to be a controversial one, thanks to umpiring gaffes. Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s No.3 who just returned to domestic cricket from a successful Test series in Australia, got two reprieves in as many innings in the game, turning it around for the visitors. Pujara scored 45 and an unbeaten 131 in the two innings to help Saurashtra win the game.

Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat who became the second bowler of his Ranji side to take 200 wickets in the tournament was of the opinion that the inclusion of Decision Review System (DRS) could elevate the game in domestic circuits. The controversy around umpiring was around Pujara and the same official, Saiyed Khaled.

In the first innings, Pujara nicked one to the wicket-keeper when on one but the umpire remained unmoved, leaving the Karnataka side utterly frustrated. Even the batsman came under criticism for not leaving the crease on its own. In the second innings, too, Pujara had an edge off Vinay Kumar’s bowling while on 34. The umpire stood unconvinced thus time as well and Pujara remained not out this time, guiding his team to their third final in seven years.

“I think anyone can have a tough game. The ball was moving a lot. It was deviating from the wicket. It has been neutral for sure if I have to say on that aspect. It doesn’t really matter. It could have been anyone else. They thought it was out, we thought it was not out,” Unadkat said after the match, reported Sportstar.

‘We also had decisions going against us’

“There were a couple of other decisions [Mayank Agarwal had survived a close call off Chetan Sakariya in the second innings] which went against us. We didn’t really take that into our mind, which they did. I don’t want to take any credit away from how we fought after being 23/3.” Agarwal, the other batsman who had an impressive debut in Australia, scored 2 and 46 in the two innings of the match.

Unadkat said the introduction of technology in domestic cricket would make it “equal” for all sides, just like it has helped teams at the international level. He left the task of introducing the DRS in domestic cricket to the BCCI.

Karnataka coach Yere Goud supported Unadkat’s view saying games will be “fair” with it. Saurashtra will take on Vidarbha in the final of the tournament starting in Nagpur on February 3.

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