"That Is Where I Saw A Captain In That Youngster" - R Sridhar Recalls Sanju Samson's Idea Of Swapping Yuzvendra Chahal And Ravindra Jadeja

Updated - 17 Jan 2023, 04:39 PM

Photo Credit: (BCCI)

Table of Contents

India’s former fielding coach, R Sridhar has revealed that Sanju Samson’s idea is to replace leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal as a concussion substitute for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the first T20I of the series against Australia in Canberra in 2020. Chahal became the first concussion substitute to be named Player of the Match in an international match.

India used the concussion substitute rule in the most tactical manner to pull off an incredible victory. Ravindra Jadeja scored an unbeaten 44 runs off 23 balls to help India set a target of 162 runs. Chahal was added to the team to bowl as the concussion substitutes in place of Jadeja after he was hit on the helmet and took three wickets for 25 runs in his four-over quota.

Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo: Twitter)

Saw Merit In Sanju’s Thinking – R Sridhar

In the book ‘Coaching Beyond – My Days with the Indian Cricket Team’, Sridhar revealed that it was Sanju Samson’s idea to replace Jadeja with Chahal as a concussion replacement, not the then head coach Ravi Shastri or Virat Kohli’s. Sridhar further stated that he saw a captain in Samson at the moment.

“I was in the dugout, ready to set up fielding stations immediately at the end of the innings before Australia could begin their chase. Seated by my side were Sanju Samson and Mayank Agarwal. Suddenly, Sanju piped up, ‘Sir, the ball hit Jaddu’s helmet, didn’t it? Why can’t we seek a concussion replacement? We can get another bowler in instead of Jaddu’,” Sridhar wrote.

“That is where I saw a captain in that youngster,” he wrote. “I urged him to dash across to Ravi and convey his sentiments, and Ravi, too, saw merit in Sanju’s thinking,” Sridhar admitted.

Neither Ravi Nor Virat Thought Of This Scenario – R Sridhar

Although the ICC approved it, Australian head coach Justin Langer was visibly upset over the decision and was seen talking to match referee David Boon along with captain Aaron Finch.

Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri. (Photo: Twitter)

“Sanju’s quick thinking that led to Chahal’s induction is an incident that will stay with me for life. That’s where you saw a captain in Sanju, you saw a leader who was thinking about the game. He was not thinking about how he got out, he was thinking for the team. These are the moments that reveal one’s character.”

“This was a classic case of reverse learning. Neither Ravi nor Virat thought of this scenario; Sanju summed things up in a jiffy and wasn’t afraid to communicate his thoughts. That’s a big tick as far as I am concerned,” Sridhar added.

Also read: IND vs NZ: “Among All The Top Fitness Freaks Around The World, He Stands Right Up There” – Salman Butt Says Virat Kohli No Less Than Any Ronaldo