Sachin Tendulkar benefited from the review system he has consistently opposed while his opening partner Virender Sehwag, a huge admirer of the DRS, did not, in the World Cup semi-final against Pakistan at Mohali on Wednesday.
Tendulkar, when on 23 in the 11th over of the Indian innings, was declared out leg before to Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal by umpire Ian Gould.
He asked for the Decision Review (DRS) got a reprieve as the available technology showed the ball would have missed the leg stump after striking his pad.
He was eventually out for 85 after living a charmed life.
Tendulkar has consistently given the thumbs down to the DRS, saying he is not fully convinced about the controversial referral system, after getting the wrong end of the stick during India's tour to Sri Lanka in 2008.
On India's next visit to the Emerald island, last year, Tendulkar had said that instead of the DRS, he favours usage of new 'Hot-Spot' technology, which is an infra-red imaging system used in cricket to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad.
"I am not fully convinced with the referral system (DRS). When I was here last time I was not convinced with many decisions. I did not feel comfortable, it was an experiment which I felt...," Tendulkar had said after notching his fifth double hundred in Tests in Colombo.
"I would rather go with the Hot Spot because that establishes the contact between the bat and the bowl. That it is far better system according to me. The Hot Spot is much better," he had added.
However, the 'Hot Spot' technology is not in use in the World Cup.
Sehwag, on the other hand, had expressed total support to the DRS in Mumbai on November 1, 2010.
"I am a big fan of the UDRS. I want it to be there for the India-New Zealand series, India-South Africa series and in the World Cup," he had remarked.
The DRS failed to come to his rescue after he was declared leg before to Pakistan's left arm swing bowler Wahab Riaz by umpire Simon Taufel. A review was called for by the swashbuckling opener only for the DRS to confirm he was out.
India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who too wasn't in favour of the system, called for it when given out LBW off Riaz and failed to benefit.
Prior to the opening match of the three-Test series against New Zealand at Ahmedabad, Dhoni had declared he would not support a 'life jacket if it was not accompanied by a warranty'.
"I personally feel it's not cent per cent thing. I don't think it gives cent percent result. It's not always correct. If I am going to buy a life jacket which does not come with a warranty, that's a bit of a hassle for me especially with the huge amount of money you have to spend for the DRS system coming into the game," Dhoni had said on November 3.
"I would prefer some kind of warranty behind it. (The) moment it comes, I would be happy for it," he had remarked then.
It is to be seen whether the Indian stalwarts will have a change of heart after what happened at Mohali.
Photograph: Getty Images
