Former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that India had exploited the grey area of concussion substitute protocol while substituting Ravindra Jadeja with Yuzvendra Chahal during the 1st T20I against Australia in Canberra. He questioned why Team India physio had not rushed to the ground to check on Jadeja after the all-rounder was hit on the head during the final over of the Indian innings.

Jadeja first picked up a hamstring injury and even after he was hit on the head, he batted the final over without much of a discomfort. Although he was limping towards the end of the innings but did not take the field due to a concussion.

Talking about the same, during a chat on Sony Six, Manjrekar said, “There is one important breach of protocol that has happened. I am sure the match referee will raise with India but one of the main things with that protocol, the moment you get hit on the head, they have to spend time with the batsman out there, asking how he feels, the physio has to come in and there are a certain set of questions that need to be asked.”

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he further elaborated, “He added just 9 runs, it wasn’t a massive advantage. But after that (hit), there should have been at least 2-3 minutes where India support staff should have come out. I would say one thing though, David Boon had no choice but to give India the concussion substitute because he would not have the courage to say he wouldn’t allow it because, at the time of impact, no attention was given. He had to give the concussion substitute once the request was made.”

Australia head coach Justin Langer was seen having an animated discussion with match referee David Boon before the commencement of the second innings. However, captain Aaron Finch completely down played the controversy, saying he can’t question the medical expert’s assessment even as Chahal delivered a match-winning spell of 3/25.

Sanjay Manjrekar, meanwhile, pointed out that the ICC will not look deeper into the rule to avoid misuse by teams in the future. Manjrekar question if Chahal was a ‘like-for-like replacement’ to Jadeja.

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Manjrekar expalied, “After this, there is going to be a lot of thought given to concussion substitute and the whole concept, because we, as players, there are rules made with good intentions, but we’re masters at just trying to find a loophole in the rule to our own advantage. Whether India took advantage, I don’t know but there’s something that ICC will start looking at.”