In the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) showdown between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, a rare occurrence unfolded as LSG made a unique substitution strategy, leveraging the concussion substitute rule.
Before the mandated use of the impact player, LSG made a significant change by replacing pacer Mohin Khan with Yudhvir Singh during the first innings. This decision meant that LSG entered the game with 13 players, anticipating the possibility of bringing in either Arshin Kulkrani or an impact substitute when they took to the field for batting.
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The situation arose when Mohsin sustained an injury in the 12th over while attempting a catch off Sunil Narine’s batting from Ravi Bishnoi’s delivery. It was later confirmed by match officials that Mohin had suffered a concussion, necessitating LSG to make a substitution as per the concussion sub rule. This rule allows for a like-for-like replacement, approved by the match referee, ensuring that LSG could only swap the injured pacer with another fast bowler.
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The LSG-KKR clash marked only the second instance of the concussion substitute rule being invoked in IPL history, despite its introduction in the 2020 season. The first instance occurred during the 2023 IPL second qualifier between the Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians when Ishan Kishan was replaced by Vishnu Vinod.
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As the match progressed, Sunil Narine’s explosive innings of 81 runs off 39 balls propelled KKR towards a formidable total, potentially surpassing the 220-run mark. Meanwhile, Yudhvir immediately made an impact by dismissing Angrish Raghuvanshi on his very first delivery.
