India Right To Take Concussion Substitute: Virender Sehwag
Dec 5, 2020 at 1:52 PM
Virender Sehwag said India were right to take concussion substitute as symptoms related to head injury can last up to 24 hours after the hit.
Ravindra Jadeja was hit on the head by a Mitchell Starc bouncer in the final 20th over of India’s innings while scoring an unbeaten brisk 44 off 23 balls uplifting India from dire straits of 114/6 in the 17th over.
Virender Sehwag: One Might Get Symptoms Within 24 Hours, So India Were Right Taking The Concussion Substitute Rules
India won the first T20I by 11 runs after successfully defending 161 runs. But they looked out of the game when their openers D Arcy Short and Aaron Finch were at the crease before Yuzvendra Chahal restricted Australia to 150/7 coming in as a substitute for Ravindra Jadeja who provided late impetus by scoring unbeaten 44.
“From our side, it was a right decision as Ravindra Jadeja was not fit to play and could not bowl as well,” Virender Sehwag, who is an expert on ‘Sony Six’, said.
“It was an opportunity which the Indian team got because he was hit on the head and when you are hit on the head, nobody can say that concussion will happen at that time. It takes time. You might get symptoms within 24 hours. So Indian team took the right advantage of the rule.” Sehwag feels that Australians shouldn’t be complaining as they were the first beneficiaries of concussion substitute rule.
“When Steve Smith was hit on the head, Labuschagne came out to bat in place of him and made runs. So, Australia also got that advantage. So I think Australia shouldn’t complain.”
Virender Sehwag referred to the first Ashes test in 2019 when Australian batsman Steven Smith was hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer and was diagnosed suffering concussion before being eventually ruled out of the test. Marnus Labuschagne was named as the official replacement for him and came to bat on the final day of the test.
Virender Sehwag: Ravindra Jadeja Continued To Bat And Score Runs But May Feel Dizziness In Dressing Room On Opening Helmet
Ravindra Jadeja was hit on head by a bouncer but didn’t seek immediate medical attention. So, a controversy was created with some experts calling concussion substitute as unfair.
‘”They might have just one contention that Jadeja continued to bat and made runs but when you open your helmet inside the dressing room then you might witness some swelling, you might fell dizziness. There is a possibility.”
“I was hit on the helmet many times so I know how it feels but during our times there were no such rules.”
Former opener Virender Sehwag, however, supported the move as he felt India had the right to get a concussion substitute as symptoms related to head injury can last up to 24 hours after the hit.
India scored 161/7, and in reply, Australians were cruising at 56/0 in the 8th over before Ravindra Jadeja’s concussion substitute Yuzvendra Chahal struck picking three prized scalps of skipper Aaron Finch, Steven Smith and Matthew Wade to earn Man of Match.