Why DRS in Ranji matches is so important for cricket

Getting the decisions right is important, but the data from hawkeye is the real victory.

The BCCI just hinted at something exciting, and I would say from the lack of buzz online that it probably isn't seen as that big a deal. I mean, it was pretty much buried in this piece. And I'm not just talking about the fact that the team most opposed to DRS might end up being its largest user.

Johns. @CricCrazyJohns

BCCI is likely to have DRS for the live matches in Ranji Trophy from next season. (Source - The Indian Express)

And I get why it doesn't feel like something big. DRS is just part of most significant cricket now. We have DRS for many local T20 leagues already. Increasingly first class games are being televised, and I suppose it makes sense to DRS them in that case.

There is undoubtedly some value in having the correct decisions made. It is better, and if you want your players to be in the same system, they will have to be at the international level. Also, we know that DRS helps train umpires as well. Plus, no one wants to lose a career chance based on an umpire missing a blatant inside edge. This is a better and fairer system.

But these are marginal games to make the things run just that little bit better.

But what India could do with the information from DRS is the most important thing; by that, I mean the Hawkeye system.

Soubhagya Chatterjee @c_soubhagya

@ajarrodkimber Hey Jarrod, I hate to break this to you. But generally Ranji games doesn't have hawkeye in the DRS tech. Its just 2-3 slowmo angles and sometimes ultraedge.Thats it.They are making it available for the whole season which was just only for knockouts previously.

When they have used DRS in Ranji trophy, it has not always had any hawkeye-like technology. But that entire system was haphazard and half-hearted. If they are to do this properly they would need the Hawkeye element.

DRS without it is really a strip down the wicket, close-up camera angles and ultra edge. These are all good tools, but Hawkeye can tell you where the ball lands better, and then it does all the predictive elements.

But outside of umpiring, what Hawkeye really does is allow for incredible analysis. It gives you the speed of your bowlers, not just their pace as the ball leaves the hand, but do their balls slow down more after pitching less than others.