Cricket is a sport that attracts a large number of viewers. And when the match involves Indian Cricket Team, then it automatically becomes worth watching. In the past few days, the issue of DRS and Hotspot has been trending on top. But what has caused this trend. The reason is Indian skipper Virat Kohli. India has been playing a Test series against New Zealand at home. The issue of HOTSPOT came into limelight after Virat Kohli was given out in a controversial way. On the first day of the second Test against New Zealand, Virat Kohli came to bat and he was trapped lbw by New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. On field umpire, Anil Chawdhary lifted his finger and indicated his decision as out because he felt that Kohli was hit on the pads. The Indian skipper was pretty confident that the ball had hit his bat and he immediately asked for the Decision Review System (DRS). Third Umpire, Virender Sharma took his time to review the decision and saw multiple replays and finally he upheld the decision as he felt there was no conclusive evidence to overturn the decision according to him. However, it was a bit visible in the the replays that the ball touched the bat of the batsman. This call by third umpire has created a lot of controversy and the fans have been criticizing the third umpire for this decision. This also gave the emergence to the issue of Hotspot technology.
This is simply – not out !!!!! We often discuss technology & its use / accuracy. The main problem@is the interpretation of the technology. Here’s a perfect example of the ball clearly hitting the edge of the bat first. https://t.co/OATRzIHcfg
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 4, 2021
What is HotSpot technology?
It is an infrared imaging technology which can be used by third umpires in certain cases of LBW decision. It is useful to detect whether the ball has touched the bat or pad first. It needs two cameras on the opposite sides and above the field of play. This helps in recording images continuously. Hotspot technology shows the contact of the ball with the bright spot created by the technology.
Why hotspot is not used in DRS?
The LBW decision is most questionable these days. For this the system of DRS has been adopted. But even after taking review, sometimes the decisions are not fair at all. Ultra edge is used by third umpires to examine whether the ball touched the bat or not. It is true that Hotspot technology is brilliant when it comes to ball touching glove, but claimed that the faint edges on the bat sometimes it doesn’t pick up and that can create confusion.
Hotspot technology involves huge cost and and transportation difficulties. There is a need of a large number of cameras to be employed to cover variety of angles of the delivery. Also the broadcast partner must come to a mutual consent of employing this. Unlike Channel Nine & Sky Sports, Indian broadcast partners along with BCCI are reluctant to employ Hot Spot.
