Dumb DRS calls By Captains in IPL

The DRS method was introduced in cricket to avoid howlers from umpires. The use of DRS has allowed teams to challenge umpires' decisions. The DRS or Decision Review System has governed a fair share of match results in the past decade.

It has helped the teams get many wrong decisions from the on-field umpires reversed, but at times, some of the worst reviews have also been taken just for the sake of it. The players have not always been able to use DRS properly. It is pretty tricky for a player to discuss it with their teammates properly within 15 seconds and then go for the review. This has sometimes created a situation where the players have asked for a foolish review. Let us look at three of the dumbest reviews in IPL history.

Faf's terrible review against Kolkata Knight Riders (2022)

Taking DRS referrals is an arduous task, but how Royal Challengers Bangalore used one of their reviews in this edition shocked everyone. In match 6 of the league, when RCB clashed against KKR, bowling first, Faf's team bundled the opponents on just 128 runs in 20 overs. However, RCB skipper Faf's disappointing review against KKR's Varun Chakravarthy caught everyone's eye.

It was the 16th over when Harshal Patel was bowling to Varun Chakravarthy. The attempt from the medium-pacer was to bowl a yorker to Varun, with the aim being to either get him bowled or LBW. The KKR star somehow put his bat against the ball and successfully defended the RCB seamer's attempt. However, Harshal Patel managed to convince skipper Faf du Plessis to take the review for LBW. As the on-field umpire signalled that a DRS referral had been accepted, the big screen began showing the delivery in slow motion. In the review, it was clarified that the bowl hit the middle of Varun's bat. Thus, the third umpire dismissed the review, leaving Faf and his team completely embarrassed and criticised for the terrible judgment.

Rashid Khan's blunder against Lucknow Super Giants (2022)

Gujarat Titans' prime bowler Rashid Khan went for probably one of the worst DRS reviews in IPL 2022 in match 57 of the tournament. Playing against the Lucknow Super Giants, Rashid convinced GT's captain Hardik Pandya to go for the review against a not out LBW appeal against LSG batter Ayush Badoni, even as the slow-motion replay confirmed that the batter had middled the ball. 

What caused Rashid to take this terrible review was his overexcitement and desperation after the appeal. However, the replay confirmed that the ball had hit the bat, turning out one of the dumbest reviews of this season. What perhaps created the illusion in the bowler's mind was that Badoni couldn't quite reach the pitch of the ball and had his bat close to the pad while eventually sending the ball to the long-on fielder for a single. 

It was a shocker from Rashid Khan and even Pandya to consider reviewing that one. It was disappointing for Rashid Khan and skipper Hardik Pandya leaving everyone stunned.  

Virat's shocking DRS against Chennai Super Kings (2018)

The former RCB skipper is known for his aggression on the field. Virat is considered one of the greatest cricketers the world has seen; however, in the match against CSK in 2018, even this cricketing genius made a massive blunder in taking the DRS call. 

Virat's attempt to remove CSK batter Ambati Rayudu turned out to be one of the dumbest DRS calls in the IPL. The umpire dismissed the LBW appeal by RCB's bowler Corey Anderson; however, Kohli didn't seem convinced by the umpire's decision and went for the review at the last moment. After the DRS call itself, Virat likely knew that it was a wrong decision. The review made the fact clear that Virat had made a big howler by wasting the review, and the umpire stood by his decision. At that moment, Rayudu was playing on 46 and further scored a massive inning of 82 runs. RCB ultimately lost this match against CSK.