‘The players should be able to decide’: Daniel Vettori feels players should be able to take DRS in case of wide calls

The 47^th match of the Indian T20 League 2022 between Kolkata and Rajasthan turned out to be a thriller with the balance constantly shifting throughout the match. Rajasthan batted first in the match and scored 152 runs from their 20 overs. While Kolkata came out to chase the Rajasthan bowlers kept the batters of the opposition in check and kept the match alive till the end.

As the match got close and things got tense, the skipper of the Rajasthan team was seen getting frustrated with the umpires. In the 19^th over of the innings umpire, Nitin Pandit called a wide of Prasidh Krishna despite the batter moving away from the stumps. The call was deemed as harsh one as Nitish Rana shuffled in his crease even before the bowler delivered the bowl. The bowler followed the batter and managed to beat him but the umpire called it wide to his disappointment.

Sanju Samson was visibly unhappy with the call and promptly discussed the call with the umpire. The Rajasthan skipper was also seen opting for a DRS for a wide. The former Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori spoke up on the matter and said that wides and height no-balls should come under DRS.

“I don’t think there was any thought of it actually being out. Absolutely, the players should be able to decide in such crucial matters,”- Vettori said during a conversation with ESPNcricinfo.

Vettori also felt that the players often get it right regarding calls on wide and waist-high no-balls. He also said that the third umpires should be brought into play in case of such decisions even when a wicket does not fall.

“Today it is a little bit different where it always looked like Kolkata are going to win. But we have sat here so many times and seen decisions go against bowlers that are so close and the umpire has got it wrong. So, therefore, the players should have some avenues towards rectifying those mistakes. That’s why DRS was brought in: to rectify mistakes. I would like to see that happen. And players are very good judges of that. They get it right more often than not,”- Vettori added.