Sachin Tendulkar Reckons If DRS Shows Ball Is Hitting The Stumps, It Should Be Given Out

Sachin Tendulkar, former Indian legendary batsman, and the ‘Prince of Trinidad’ Brian Lara offered their views on the Decision Review System [DRS] and how the ICC has increased the number of available reviews available per innings from two to three as part of the new guidelines in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While Tendulkar agreed with the ICC’s decision to increase the number of reviews from two to three, he has expressed his displeasure with the leg-before rule, according to which at least 50 percent of the ball must hit the stumps to overturn the on-field call. The legendary batsman said that even if ball the ball kisses the stumps, it should be enough to overturn the umpire’s original call.

“One thing I don’t agree with, with the ICC, is the DRS they’ve been using for quite some time. It is the LBW decision where more than 50% of the ball must be hitting the stumps for the on-field decision to be overturned. The only reason they (the batsman or the bowler) have gone upstairs is because they are unhappy with the on-field decision, so when the decision goes to the third umpire, let the technology take over; just like in Tennis – it’s either in or out, there’s nothing in between,’ Sachin Tendulkar told Brian Lara on his app ‘100 MB’

“I know a number of people have said that technology is 100% right, but neither are humans. So once you decide to use technology, you rely on it. Here, too, you have to see the travel path of the ball – the ball is not directly hitting the stumps, there’s a guy standing in between – so a number of elements come in to play – the turn, the bounce, the swing, all those things – but eventually you have to follow that travel path and rely on technology,” the 2011 World Cup-winner further added.

What % of the ball hits the stumps doesn’t matter, if DRS shows us that the ball is hitting the stumps, it should be given out, regardless of the on-field call. That's the motive of using technology in Cricket. As we know technology isn’t 100% right but neither are humans.#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/8At80AtRs5

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 11, 2020

Also Read: Of Course We’ll Come, Uncle Srini: Dave Cameron Reveals CWI Initial Reaction To BCCI’s Request To Play Sachin Tendulkar’s Farewell Series

‘Agree with you Paaji’- Harbhajan Singh on Sachin Tendulkar’s views

Harbhajan Singh, Sachin’s former teammate, also agreed with him. Replying to the video on Twitter, Harbhajan wrote-

‘Agree with you Paji 1000 percent correct. If the ball is touching the stump or kissing the Stumps it should be given out.”It does not matter how much part of the ball hit the wicket..few rules should b changed in the game for betterment of the game..this is certainly 1 of those,” Harbhajan Singh tweeted.

Agree with you Paji 1000 percent correct.. If the ball is touching the stump or kissing the Stumps it should be given out..It does not matter how much part of the ball hit the wicket..few rules should b changed in the game for betterment of the game..this is certainly 1 of those https://t.co/m1PfaIpR8y

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 11, 2020

Meanwhile, the importance of DRS has once again been testified in the ongoing Test between England and West Indies with the visitors managing to get several on-field decision howlers- 5 in total- courtesy local but experienced umpires Richard Kettlebrough and Richard Illingworth- over-turned.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar Advised Me To ‘Enjoy The Moment’: Ajinkya Rahane Recalls His Test Debut