BCCI President Anurag Thakur admits BCCI is open to DRS if it is near perfect

In what looks a historic change of stance, BCCI president Anurag Thakur said on Monday that India is open to implementing the Decision Review System (DRS) on the condition that the technology is close to perfection.

India have historically turned a blind eye towards the controversial Decision Review System and have vehemently stood by their stance of opposing it, but Thakur’s statement will be music to the ears of Indian fans who have been clamouring for BCCI’s acceptance of the technological advancement.

Before the second Test against New Zealand, Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli added that the DRS is a strong possibility in the not too distant future. The BCCI chief also added that the issue will be discussed during ICC’s quarterly Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting which will take place in Cape Town next week.

Speaking to the media during an informal interaction during the ongoing second Test between India and New Zealand, Thakur said: “We will again look at the performance of the DRS. If it’s satisfactory, BCCI is open to use the DRS. We are 13 hosting 13 Tests at home this season, then why not? It all depends on the feedback and the outcome of the latest trials on DRS.

“In the digital age of 21st century, there’s nothing which is stopping us to use the technology. We believe in that. We want to be close to perfection if not perfect.”

Thakur also added that the ICC cricket committee chairman and Indian head coach, Anil Kumble was looking into this issue and having discussions with Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli as well.

“We want to make it foolproof (DRS), that’s the idea. We have Kumble who represents in the cricket committee and he’s the coach, he can discuss with (skipper) Virat Kohli and can put the suggestions forward. If umpires are getting 95-97 percent of the decisions and the same with DRS, then what’s the change? So the only issue is if not 100 per cent then how better can we do than the field umpires,” he said.

“BCCI is open to the DRS. But is the technology 100 percent foolproof? There were shortcomings. We have told the cricket committee in ICC too look into the DRS and the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) was supposed to give a report.”

During the CEC meeting in Edinburgh, the issue of DRS was brought up but a conclusion couldn’t be reached and Thakur felt that BCCI is “always open about reforms.”