'The match referee is an Australian' - Sunil Gavaskar downplays debate over India's use of concussion substitute

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has downplayed the ongoing debate over Yuzvendra Chahal replacing Ravindra Jadeja as a concussion substitute during the first T20I against Australia on Friday. At first, questions were raised on Jadeja being subbed out since he continued batting after being hit on the head in the final over of India’s innings.

Team India’s doctor did not follow the standard protocol either as he did not check the allrounder after the blow. And now a debate is going on over whether Chahal was a like-for-like replacement for the Jadeja. The discussion on the same has only increased after the combination of Jadeja, the batsman, and Chahal, the bowler, helped India beat Australia by 11 runs.

In the first half of the game, Jadeja rescued India with a knock of 44 not out from 23 balls. India were reeling on 114 for 6 in the 17th over before Jadeja’s knock helped them post 161 for 7. Chahal then picked up 3 for 25 to help the Men in Blue restrict the hosts to 150 f0r 7. The leg-spinner was also the Player of the Match for his fine display with the ball.

Sunil Gavaskar on India’s use of concussion substitute

With the cricket fraternity busy over the debate, legendary Sunil Gavaskar has also chipped in with his views. The batting legend made it clear that he sees nothing wrong with the move as he said there should be no noise about India’s tactics as the move was approved by the match referee David Boon who is an Australian.

“The match referee is an Australian, he is a former Australian cricketer David Boon. He was okay with Chahal substituting Jadeja. They normally say like for like, you can argue that Chahal’s not an all-rounder but anyone who goes out with the bat whether he scores 1 run of 100 runs is an all-rounder as far as I’m concerned. And he bowls so it’s a like for like replacement. And the Australian match referee had no objection so I don’t see why there is so much of noise about it,” Sunil Gavaskar told India Today.