Aakash Chopra Weighs In On The Alleged Controversy During The First T20I Between Australia And India

Former Indian Aakash Chopra has weighed in on the controversy that took place during the first T20 international between India and Australia in Canberra on Friday. Yuzvendra Chahal, who came in as a concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja, bowled a match-winning spell to enable India to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. While India took him in as a like for like replacement, it created a division of opinions since Jadeja is an all-rounder and Chahal is a specialist bowler. Aakash Chopra has hit back on the detractors saying head injuries are serious.

Ravindra Jadeja crafted a match-turning knock of 44 off 23 deliveries, containing five fours and a six, to lift India to 161 from a precarious 114-6. Mitchell Starc, who bowled the last over, delivered a bouncer one of the six deliveries that the southpaw was not able to connect. Jadeja continued batting and added valuable runs to the total; however, could not take the field and the visitors opted for Yuzvendra Chahal to have his four overs. Chahal bagged figures of 4-0-25-3.

Aakash Chopra pointed out that as soon as a batsman gets hit on the head, concussion protocols take over and the team physio and doctors check the player’s helmet and examine the head and only then the game moves forward. He accepts that the same did not happen which was wrong. Aakash added that once the all-rounder goes back, he complains of dizziness and the doctor advises not to go back on the field.

“The rule says that if you are hit on the head by the ball the concussion protocols take over. Which means as soon as someone is hit on the head, the team physio, medical doctors should go in and check the player’s helmet and examine his head and then only the game should move forward. Which did not happen, which was one wrong. Jaddu continues to play and hits one or two shots but once he goes to the dressing room, he complains of dizziness, giddiness and the team doctor advises him not to go back to the field as he does not want to take a chance,” Aakash Chopra told in his Youtube video.

The story changes entirely when you get hit on the head: Aakash Chopra

The 43-year old hit back at the critics who pointed out that Ravindra Jadeja kept batting even when he got hit and nobody came to check on. He believes that when people do not know the magnitude of a player’s injury after being hit on the head, they should not comment. Aakash feels that while the hamstring injury was visible; however, the story changes when a head wound occurs. Aakash Chopra went on to say that it was almost impossible to get a precise replacement for Jadeja; hence, it was the match referee’s decision.

“The hamstring injury was genuine and was visible but the story changes entirely when you get hit on the head. When the talk comes about the concussion substitute, it has to be a like-for-like replacement for the remainder of the match. If he had been hit while fielding in the first innings, then someone capable of batting like Jaddu would have come. You cannot get a bowler who bowls like Jaddu, so you make a request for a spinner to the match referee. It was his discretion if he agrees that Chahal is like Jaddu or doesn’t. Or he may say that he is not even convinced by your injury,” he added.

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