“If the ball is hitting the stumps, it’s out,” Sachin Tendulkar expresses reservations over current DRS format

Tendulkar was at the receiving end of umpiring howlers on numerous occasions during his playing days.

Sachin Tendulkar | GettyIndian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his reservations over the current DRS format, saying if the ball is hitting the stumps then it should be out.

During his illustrious career, Tendulkar was at the receiving end of umpiring howlers on numerous occasions. No wonder, he feels that he would have loved taking DRS reviews in his playing days.

“Quite a few, I couldn’t count them on my fingers for sure (when asked how many times he would’ve referred to DRS if it existed during his playing days). I would have loved it, without any doubt. Some decisions go in your favour, some go against you as well,” said Tendulkar while speaking on at India Today Conclave 2023.

“We’re only pointing fingers at technology, but it’s not fool-proof and so are humans. Before DRS, there were blatant mistakes made and because of those mistakes and because a third person was deciding the fate, matches were either lost or won,” he added.

The batting maestro further said that he doesn’t agree with DRS in its current form.

“I completely disagree with the current format, if the ball is hitting the stumps, it’s out and if not, the batter continues to bat.When someone, either the batter or bowler, is unhappy with the on-field umpire’s call and that’s why they go to the third umpire. Then why are they going back to the decision of the on-field umpire? If you’ve decided to go that route (with technology), then go that route. But what we’re trying to do is mixing both things and I disagree,” said Tendulkar.

Widely regarded as India’s greatest batter ever, Sachin Tendulkar represented India in 200 Tests and 463 ODIs, scoring the world record number of runs (15921 in Tests and 18426 in ODIs) and centuries (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs).

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 18 Mar, 2023

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