The umpire's call right now is creating a lot of confusion: Virat Kohli

Umpire’s call and the soft signal have been a talking point throughout the recently concluded Test and T20I series between India and England. Speaking at a virtual press conference ahead of the three-match One-Day International series, India and RCB captain Virat Kohli raised a few concerns with respect to the DRS. 

"Look, I have played in the time where there was no DRS. The umpire made the decision whether the batsman liked it or not, it stayed like that. Vice-versa, if the umpire gave it not out and it was out, it stayed like that. Whether it was marginal or not, according to me, the umpire's call right now is creating a lot of confusion.”

“When you get bowled as a batsman, you do not expect the ball to hit more than 50 per cent into the stumps to consider yourself getting bowled. If the ball is shown clipping the stumps, basic cricket common sense, I do not think there should be any debates on that, if the ball is hitting the stumps, it should be out. Whether you like it or not, you should lose the review," said Kohli during a virtual press conference.

A point of confusion on and off the field

"If it hits the stumps or missing the stumps, it should not matter how much the ball is clipping because it is creating a lot of confusion. One more factor that needs to be considered is how the fielding team responds to a dismissal that is claimed,” he said.

Virat Kohli has been vocal about this issue and expressed to seek more clarification, citing the fact that there will be no margin for error during bigger tournaments, and each instance will be crucial, leaving no room for complacency. 

“This is somewhere defining the soft signals as well. You have to question what the spirit of the game is and what those guidelines are because if things like that happen with the Indian cricket team overseas then you are talking about a completely different conversation about the spirit of the game. So look, it is a serious thing that needs to be considered because there is a lot at stake in bigger tournaments. You do not want any grey area hampering the game and it leaves with you no clarity," he added.

The three-match ODI series between the Men in Blue and the Three Lions kicks-off on 23rd March at the Maharastra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.