Any innovation in the world of sports—be it a change in technology, like the VAR in football, or a change in rules—has had its share of bricks and bouquets.
Six years ago, when Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died two days after being hit on the side of the neck by a Sean Abbott bouncer, it sparked debate on the use of bouncers, the effectiveness of helmets, and more. But it also led to an interesting change in cricket rules—the introduction of concussion substitutes. But all hell broke loose after leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal came on as a concussion sub for Ravindra Jadeja in the first T20I against Australia on December 4, and put in a match-winning performance of 3/25 to help India win by 11 runs.
What is a concussion substitute?
ICC introduced the rule of player replacement in case of concussion or suspected concussion as a result of a head or neck injury in all forms of international and first-class cricket.
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What does the rule say?
Per the rules stated in MCC Laws of Cricket, according to clause 1.2.7, a concussion replacement may be permitted under following circumstances:
1
The head or neck injury must have been sustained during the match
2
The concussion or suspected concussion must have been diagnosed by the Team Medical staff
And, after a formal and thorough medical examination, if the medical staff/representative feels that player has indeed sustained concussion, then he must identify a like-for-like representative for the same.
Why did Chahal replace Jadeja?
On the second ball of the final over of India’s innings, Jadeja top-edged a Mitchell Starc delivery on to his helmet. The Indian team physio did not come out to check him and Jadeja continued to bat, scoring a valuable 23-ball 44*. But, after the innings break, it was announced that Jadeja has been diagnosed with concussion, and the match referee, David Boon, had allowed Chahal to substitute him.
Why the controversy?
In the penultimate over, Jadeja had injured his hamstring and the physio attended to him, following which he continued to bat. He was struggling to even run between the wickets. His chances of taking the field during Australia's chase were practically nil.
With Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa bowling beautifully (1/20), India seemed to have missed a trick by dropping Chahal from the playing XI. But he was able to take the field as the concussion substitute for Jadeja, much to the frustration of the Aussies, especially coach Justin Langer who was seen having an animated discussion with the match referee. All-rounder Moises Henriques, too, questioned Chahal, an outright bowler, as the 'like-for-like' concussion substitute for Jadeja, an all-rounder.
Did India misuse the 'concussion substitute' rule?
Though it might seem, at first glance, that India managed to get the best of both worlds—Jadeja scored a crucial 44, and Chahal, who was not in the original playing XI, took three crucial wickets—the visitors were well within their rights to do the swap.
There are arguments that the Indian physio did not attend to Jadeja as soon as he was hit. But, as per ICC’s concussion management protocols, a physio should immediately run on to the field and attend to a player hit on the head only if the player is down, or if the players or the umpire calls him out onto the field, or if the player asks for a new helmet. Since, none of these happened, and because it was the final over the innings, Jadeja was examined in the dressing room during the innings break.
As for the row over 'like-for-like' replacement, as per law, the match referee needs to consider the role the replaced player would have played—bowling spin and fielding, in Jadeja's case—in the remainder of the match. Chahal fitted the bill perfectly. Also, if the match referee deemed that the substitute player would excessively advantage the team, he may curtail his role accordingly. Which, according to the match referee, was not necessary in case of Chahal replacing Jadeja.
India will take on Australia in the second T20I on December 6.