Ranji Trophy Semi-Final: Gujarat vs Kerala Match Marred by Concussion Substitute Controversy

Image credits: एक्सप्रेस फोटो

The Ranji Trophy semi-final match between Gujarat and Kerala has been marred by controversy over the concussion substitute rule. Gujarat's leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi was injured while fielding, and he was replaced by medium pacer Hemang Patel, which sparked a debate over the 'like-for-like' substitution rule. Kerala's spinner Jalaj Saxena objected to Hemang's inclusion, arguing that a spinner should be replaced by another spinner, not a fast bowler.

The incident occurred when Bishnoi was hit on the face while trying to stop a shot, and he was taken off the field for medical attention. Hemang Patel was brought in as his replacement and batted at number five, which Saxena felt was unfair. However, Gujarat had no other option but to play Hemang, and he went on to score 27 runs off 41 balls, helping his team stay in the game. The concussion substitute rule has been a topic of debate in recent times, with a similar incident occurring during the India-England T20I series.

The match is being played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, and Kerala had scored 457 runs in their first innings. Gujarat responded strongly, with opener Priyank Panchal scoring 148 runs and young batsman Arya Desai playing a crucial knock. The controversy over the concussion substitute rule has added a new dimension to the game, with both teams eager to win and progress to the final. The rule states that a player who is concussed can be replaced by another player, but the replacement should be a like-for-like substitution.

In this case, Bishnoi, a spinner, was replaced by Hemang, a fast bowler, which Kerala felt was not a like-for-like substitution. The debate over the rule is likely to continue, with some arguing that it is unfair to allow a team to replace a player with someone who has a different skill set. The incident has also raised questions about the implementation of the rule and whether it is being used fairly. The match is ongoing, and the outcome is still uncertain, but one thing is clear - the concussion substitute rule is a topic of controversy that is here to stay.

Here are the match scores:

• Gujarat: 428/6 (Priyank Panchal 148, Arya Desai 71, Hemang Patel 27)
• Kerala: 457 (Mohammed Azharuddeen 177, Rohan Kunnummal 64)

The match is being closely watched, and the controversy over the concussion substitute rule has added an extra layer of excitement to the game. The outcome is still uncertain, but one thing is clear - the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Gujarat and Kerala has been a thrilling encounter so far.

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