Ben Stokes Gambhir clash over injury rule
England captain Ben Stokes made headlines during his post-match press conference by strongly opposing the idea of injury replacements in Test cricket. Reacting to India’s use of Dhruv Jurel as a stand-in wicketkeeper for the injured Rishabh Pant, Stokes said the concept should not be entertained at all. He claimed it would open doors to loopholes and lead teams to misuse the provision.
“You pick an eleven and deal with the injuries. That’s how Test cricket works,” Stokes said, calling the suggestion of replacements “absolutely ridiculous.”
Pant’s injury reignites the debate
Rishabh Pant’s brave innings with a fractured foot during the Manchester Test became the spark for the heated discussion. Pant was allowed to bat but not replaced behind the stumps, even though he was clearly in pain. His situation raised questions about player safety and the fairness of continuing without proper substitutions.
Dhruv Jurel stepped in to keep wickets temporarily, but Pant still had to bat, reigniting calls for a formal injury replacement policy.
Gambhir backs rule with official oversight
India head coach Gautam Gambhir argued that Test cricket needs to evolve and allow injury replacements—if the situation is serious and properly verified. He emphasized that match officials should have the authority to decide when a substitution is valid to prevent any misuse.
“I’m all for it, if the match referee and umpires feel there’s a major injury. Playing with 10 men is not fair in today’s game,” Gambhir said.
A wider call for player-first reforms
The disagreement between Stokes and Gambhir has brought fresh attention to how traditional rules may need to adapt. While concussion substitutes were approved in 2019 after tragic incidents, no formal protocol exists for other injuries.
This latest episode could push the ICC to reconsider the structure of player replacements in Tests, especially with closely contested series making every player’s role vital.
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