Ravindra Jadeja-Yuzvendra Chahal concussion substitute drama was a major talking point in the first T20 International of the ongoing three-match T20I series between the hosts Australia and India at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday (December 4).
All the drama started when Jadeja – who already looked in trouble with his hamstring evidently in the 19th over, got hit on the helmet by a thunderbolt from Mitchell Starc. Eventually, the all-rounder was replaced by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for rest of the match after starring with the bat with an unbeaten 23-ball 44 to steer Team India to a par score of 161 in Canberra.
Later, India’s concussion substitute Chahal turned out to be a match-winner for the tourists as the leg-spinner produced a game-changing spell of 3/30, dismissing Australia captain Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, and Matthew Wade to help India win the first T20I by 11 runs.
For his match-winning spell, Chahal was adjudged Man of the Match in Canberra.
Well, India’s move to go for a concussion substitute didn’t go down well with many including Australia head coach Justin Langer, especially after Jadeja seemingly looked fine while walking back to the dressing room after being hit on the helmet with many questioning whether the concussion protocols were followed as the all-rounder wasn't checked on by a physio or had his helmet changed after the blow.
Some believed it wasn’t the right move to replace an all-rounder with a leg-spinner especially after he had already played his part in the first winnings while others raised questions on the severity of his injury and on the concussion testing protocols, as Jadeja didn’t undergo a concussion test after the blow.
Amid the controversy, former India spinner Pragyan Ojha backed Men in Blue’s move, saying the tourists were well within the laws of the game to take the concussion substitute.
However, the former cricketer said he can understand why the Australians are unhappy with the substitute but said it’s all about the law that India favored on Friday.
Ojha said on Sports Today: “For every rule or every law there is a loophole and this favored the Indians. If the ball hadn’t hit Jadeja’s helmet, the matter of fact is that he was struggling with a hamstring injury. It is good that it ended well and we got the substitute for concussion.”
He further explained, “But it was well within the rule and India took it. But I am very sure this will not go down well with the Aussies. They will raise questions because Jadeja had a hamstring issue. Because of the ball hitting his helmet, and despite him continuing to bat well, he got the substitute.”
Ojha signed off, “This point they will definitely question, as it was visible in the conversation between Justin Langer and David Boon. It is absolutely fine as long as you are within the laws of the game.”
