India vs Australia : “Call it smart or cheeky but India was within their right to use concussion sub to their advantage,” opines Zaheer Khan

India vs Australia : “Call it smart or cheeky but India was within their right to use concussion sub to their advantage,” opines Zaheer Khan

Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal (L-R)

Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal (L-R)
Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal (L-R)

The opening T20I between India and Australia has sparked controversy around the concussion substitute rule of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Ravindra Jadeja was struck on the helmet by a Mitchell Starc bouncer while he was carrying a hamstring injury. Jadeja was not checked by a doctor or physio while he was hit. But was deemed to be concussed after being checked during the innings break.

Following the diagnosis, Yuzvendra Chahal took the field in the second innings as a concussion substitute for Jadeja. And turned the game upside down with his three wickets. Chahal sent the big guns Aaron Finch, Steve Smith and Matthew Wade packing as he was adjudged the man of the match. His game-changing performance after being left out of the original XI has led to a debate if the leggie was a “like for like” substitution for Jadeja.

The hit was a timely hit on the head

Ravindra Jadeja in discomfort during the game

Weighing in on the matter, former Indian quick Zaheer Khan feels that India were well within the premises of the law to use the substitution to their advantage. Zaheer opines that it’s upto the player and the medical staff as far as the diagnosis goes. And beyond that, the proceedings were by the book. The fact that substitution worked wonders for India has only fanned the flames of debate around the issue.

“You can say that the hit was a timely hit on the head. That certainly gave the smartness in thinking to come in play. India was within their right to use concussion substitute rule to their advantage. You can call it smart, you can call it cheeky and you will never know. Concussion is something how the player is feeling and how the medical staff is examining that. End of the day, it’s going to be what Ravindra Jadeja had to say. If he is feeling anywhere on those lines or not. And, I am sure, because of that everything was well within the boundaries of the rules,” Zaheer said on Cricbuzz Live.

“You can say that this has opened up the grey area, going forward, when it comes to the concussion (substitute) rule, that is definitely debatable. But today, I think, except for being upset and angry, (Justin) Langer can’t do much about how things panned out.“

While match referee David Boon allowed the substitution, Australia coach Justin Langer was seen having a long altercation with him. Langer was clearly not happy as India replaced all-rounder Jadeja with a specialist bowler. Aussie allrounder Moises Henriques also questioned if the replacement was “like for like.”

Also read : Moises Henriques questions whether concussion substitution was ‘like for like’