Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t hold back in responding to Ben Stokes’ recent comments on injury substitutions, urging the England captain to “think before you speak,” and warning that “karma hits instantly.” Ashwin’s remarks came in light of the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where Chris Woakes, after suffering a shoulder injury, was visibly struggling but still came out to bat one-handed in a last-ditch attempt to save the game.

The entire debate began when Rishabh Pant injured his foot in the fourth Test, making him unavailable to bat. Unlike concussion substitutes, where a like-for-like replacement is allowed, the current ICC rules don’t permit a batting or bowling substitute for regular injuries. Only fielding subs are allowed.

While India coach Gautam Gambhir suggested it might be time to rethink the regulation, Ben Stokes was quick to dismiss the idea, calling it “ridiculous” and suggesting it could be misused to bring in fresher players for minor injuries or fatigue.

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Ravichandran Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, took issue with that stance. “When Gautam Gambhir said players like Pant should be allowed a sub, Ben Stokes responded by calling the idea ‘a joke.’ Now look what happened — Woakes, your own teammate, came out with his shoulder in a sling and nearly pulled off a heroic win. I respect Stokes a lot — he’s a fighter and a leader — but sometimes, words can come back to haunt you,” Ashwin said.

He lauded Woakes’ commitment, calling his effort “incredible,” but used the incident to highlight how the game needs to evolve. Quoting former England captain Michael Vaughan, who also supported a rule change, Ashwin added: “The rules should reflect the spirit of fairness. If a Rishabh Pant or a Joe Root gets injured, wouldn’t you want a replacement who can still compete and keep the contest alive?”

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Ashwin concluded by reminding Stokes of the impact of words. “You’re free to have an opinion, but don’t call it a ‘joke’ or ‘ridiculous.’ It’s about empathy. Think about what it would feel like if it happened to one of your top players. Karma has a way of hitting back.”

Interestingly, even after Woakes’ injury, Stokes doubled down at the post-match press conference: “If someone gets injured, tough s***. Deal with it,” he bluntly stated — a stance that continues to divide the cricketing world.