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"Play Tennis Or Golf, Not Test": Gavaskar Likens Concussion Substitute To Incompetency

Akshita Patel

Sunil Gavaskar lays strong opinion on substitutes [Source: @ICC, @SonySports/X.com]Sunil Gavaskar lays strong opinion on substitutes [Source: @ICC, @SonySports/X.com]

Former India cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised the current concussion substitute rule in international cricket. During the India vs England Test match at Old Trafford, Gavaskar said the rule allows a like-for-like substitute for incompetence and should be rethought by the ICC.

The heated debate over a substitute began when India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant suffered a freak toe injury while trying to play a reverse sweep against fast bowler Chris Woakes. 

Despite the painful blow, Pant returned on Day 2 and scored a gutsy half-century. However, because of his injury, he could not continue as a wicket-keeper, and Dhruv Jurel replaced him only for fielding duties.

Sunil Gavaskar Strongly Opposes Concussion Substitute Rule

Speaking on Sony Sports, Sunil Gavaskar questioned the fairness of concussion substitutes. He said allowing substitutes for concussion injury is equivalent to normalising incompetence. 

According to Gavaskar, if a player is not equipped to handle the short ball, he shouldn’t be playing Test cricket in the first place.

“I’ve always felt that you are giving a like-for-like substitute for incompetence. If you are not good enough to play short-pitched bowling, don’t play Test cricket; go and play tennis or golf. You are giving a like-for-like substitute for somebody who can’t play the short ball and gets hit,” Gavaskar said.

The concussion substitute rule was introduced in 2019, years after Australian cricketer Phil Hughes died after getting struck by a bouncer. It allows a team to replace a player who suffers a concussion during a match, but only with someone of a similar skill set. 

Gavaskar Bats For Injury Replacement

However, Sunil Gavaskar argued that the rule related to concussion is being misused and doesn't cover other serious injuries like the one Rishabh Pant suffered in Manchester. He urged the ICC to allow player replacements for clear, accidental injuries.

“Here, it is a clear injury (Pant); there has to be a substitute. I want some sort of committee appointed to take a call on this. We don’t want a situation for the media here in particular and in Australia to say, ‘Oh, because it’s an Indian situation, they have started to do that’. So, let it be a totally different committee to look at these injuries, maybe with doctors, etc., and let that committee come to a call,” he added.

Gavaskar’s comments have sparked fresh debate about how fair and effective the current substitution rules are, especially in the high-pressure world of Test cricket.