A new debate has erupted in the cricket world after England captain Ben Stokes and India head coach Gautam Gambhir offered contrasting views on allowing injury replacements in Test cricket. The discussion gained traction after Rishabh Pant suffered a fractured foot in the Manchester Test and, despite his injury, had to bat for India since the current rules do not allow injury substitutes apart from concussion cases.
Pant’s injury saw Dhruv Jurel step in as the wicketkeeper, but the lack of a full replacement option forced India to continue with just 10 fit players. This prompted questions around whether Test cricket needs to evolve its stance on injury replacements.
In the post-match press conference, Stokes dismissed the idea outright. “It’s absolutely ridiculous there’s even a conversation about injury replacement. There would be too many loopholes for teams to exploit. Injuries are part of the game—you pick your 11 and deal with it,” he said bluntly.
Gambhir Supports Rule Change for Serious Injuries
Gautam Gambhir, however, expressed a very different opinion. The former Indian opener strongly supported the concept of allowing injury replacements, especially when the injury is clear and confirmed by umpires and the match referee.
“Absolutely, I’m all for it,” Gambhir said. “If it’s a serious injury, and everyone can see it’s genuine, what’s the harm in bringing in a substitute? This is especially important in a high-stakes series like this one.”
He further added, “Imagine playing 10 against 11 in a competitive Test match. That’s not just unfortunate—it’s unfair.” Gambhir pointed out that while concussion substitutes were rightly introduced after Phil Hughes’ tragic death in 2014, there is no similar provision for other serious injuries, which leaves teams at a disadvantage.
The disagreement between Stokes and Gambhir has sparked widespread debate across the cricketing world. Should Test cricket evolve to prioritize player welfare, or should it remain firm in preserving its traditional format? The ICC now faces mounting pressure to review the rule and possibly make space for fair and verified injury substitutes in the red-ball game.
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