The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has discussed the possibility of using the Decision Review System (DRS) more widely in domestic cricket. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the discussion came up during the BCCI’s recent Apex Council meeting.
However, no final decision has been taken; the discussion is being seen as an early step towards expanding the use of DRS across domestic tournaments. At present, the technology is used only in a limited number of high-profile matches in India’s busy domestic calendar.
How much DRS technology cost for BCCI?
The biggest hurdle is the cost involved. Hawk-Eye, which is based in the UK, can cost around Rs 10 lakh per day. With the BCCI conducting over 1,500 matches every year, with many of them multi-day games, the total expense could run into hundreds of crores.
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IIT Working for another alternative
The report also mentioned that students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) are working on a more affordable alternative. This version is expected to cost the BCCI nearly one-fifth of what Hawk-Eye charges for its services. However, any such system would need months of testing and fine-tuning before it could be used in official matches.
DRS has become an integral part of modern cricket, enabling umpires to make more informed decisions and minimise errors in high-pressure situations.
In other developments, the BCCI has approved a six-month extension for Tech Mahindra, the company that manages the board’s website and mobile apps. The firm had asked for a 12-month renewal, but the board opted for a shorter extension. The original contract, which was set to expire on December 31, 2024, had already been extended until December 31, 2025.
In a statement, the BCCI said the extension was needed to ensure the smooth functioning of its digital platforms while a new Request for Proposal (RFP) process is being finalised. With the 2025–26 season underway and the RFP close to completion, the board felt a short-term extension was the best option for now.