Follow UsThe topic of injury substitutions gained fresh traction after Rishabh Pant suffered a fractured toe while batting during the first innings of the fourth Test against England in Manchester. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter was forced to retire hurt but returned later to bat. However, he took no further part in the match, which eventually ended in a draw.
Following the match, India head coach Gautam Gambhir and former England captain Michael Vaughan both advocated for the introduction of injury substitutions in Test cricket, similar to the current concussion substitution rule. England skipper Ben Stokes, however, dismissed the proposal outright.
Fast forward to the fifth and final Test at The Oval, and it was England’s turn to deal with an untimely injury. Senior seamer Chris Woakes dislocated his shoulder during the first innings after bowling 14 overs. He missed the remainder of the match - did not bat in England’s first innings and didn’t bowl in India’s second.
Despite the injury, Woakes walked out to bat with his arm in a sling when England needed just 17 more runs to win with only one wicket in hand. He didn’t face a single delivery, as Mohammed Siraj bowled Gus Atkinson to seal a thrilling six-run win for India and level the series.
Weighing in on the ongoing debate, former India off-spinner R Ashwin addressed the matter on his Hindi YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat and didn’t mince his words. “What you sow is what you reap," he said.
"At Old Trafford, after Rishabh Pant’s injury, the press conference included questions about injury substitution. Gautam Gambhir had said that injuries like these warrant substitutions. Immediately after, the same question was asked to Ben Stokes and he said, ‘It’s absolutely a joke.’
“I’m a big fan of Ben Stokes. I admire his attitude. But you need to think before you speak.”
The veteran spinner echoed Michael Vaughan’s stance as well. “Michael Vaughan said this is one area where the game can evolve. Substitutions should be allowed.
"All I’m saying is: show a little empathy for the other team. Stokes should have considered what it would be like if a player of Rishabh Pant’s calibre was in his team and got injured. Wouldn’t you want a substitution? Wouldn’t that be fair?
"You are free to share your opinion - but using words like ‘joke’ and ‘ridiculous’ isn’t respectful. Think before you speak.”