Gavaskar wary of DRS as England prosper

India has had its first brush with the upgraded and improved version of the Decision Review System (DRS), but batting great Sunil Gavaskar remains unconvinced about the rules that govern it.

Gavaskar, a former head of the ICC's cricket committee, said the 'umpire's call' component of the system left him confused on the opening day of the first Test against England in Rajkot.

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He pointed to India's unsuccessful review for leg-before against century-maker Joe Root after Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena had turned down a loud appeal from bowler Umesh Yadav.

Replays showed the ball graze the leg-stump, but third umpire Rod Tucker correctly ruled it an 'umpire's call', allowing Root to remain at the crease on 92.

Gavaskar pointed out that if the batsman had been given out on the field and reviewed the decision, the 'umpire's call' would then have sent him packing.

"So a batsman can be both out or not out by an 'umpire's call'. I find that a bit strange," said Gavaskar.

The BCCI, which had consistently rejected the use of the DRS for their bilateral series, agreed to trial it for this five-match series following an ICC presentation.

While India had one review rejected on the first day, England faltered twice in their use of the DRS.

Skipper Alastair Cook (21) did not challenge a leg-before verdict against Ravindra Jadeja. Replays showed the ball would have missed the leg-stump.

Then teenage debutant Haseeb Hameed was nudged by non-striker Root to review a leg-before after he had scored a promising 31, only to find the review system find in favour of the bowler Ravichandran Ashwin.

Root went on to make 124, adding 179 for the fourth wicket with Moeen Ali (99 not out) as England made use of good batting conditions after winning the toss to end the day at a comfortable 4-311.

It was the first time in the last 21 Test innings on Indian soil that a visiting team scored more than 300 runs.

Root's century was the first by a visiting batsman in India since February, 2013 - 13 Tests ago - when Michael Clarke hit 130 for Australia in Chennai.

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India, who have won 12 of their last 13 home Tests on pitches tailor-made for spin, found wickets hard to come by as the bowlers found no assistance in the air or off the wicket.

Frontline seamer Mohammad Shami added to India's woes by limping off with cramps while bowling his 10th over, and even though he returned later, he was clearly in discomfort and skipper Virat Kohli decided against taking the second new ball late in the day.

India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar said two dropped catches in the opening session let England off the hook, but insisted the hosts could come back strongly on day two.

"In the first session of day one there is always something in the wicket and you need to make it count, whether you are batting or bowling first," Bangar said.

"Unfortunately the dropped catches did not allow us to make those early dents in their batting. That set us back a bit.

"But credit is due to the England batsmen. They applied themselves well and made use of the conditions.

"However the game changes quickly in India and a couple of early wickets on the second morning will help us back in the game. We should have got six wickets today."

Bangar said Shami was recovering well from cramps and will continue to bowl.

"Shami had an ice bath and is being monitored closely," he said. "Hopefully, he will be fit and raring to go on the second day."

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