In the first innings of the fourth Test of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, Rishabh Pant suffered a toe fracture as he attempted to reverse-sweep Chris Woakes. Pant braved the injury, hobbled to the middle and added valuable runs to India's score but was unable to keep wickets. This led to many former cricketers suggesting that in this day and age, an injury replacement should be introduced in international cricket. In the post-match press conference, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked the same question and he backed the idea of an injury replacement. However, England Test captain Ben Stokes is against the idea and feels it can be misused.
"Absolutely, I'm all for it," Gambhir said. "If the umpires and the match referee sees and feels that is a major injury, I think it's very important. It's very important to have this rule where you can get a substitute - that is, if it's very visible. There's nothing wrong in doing that, especially in a series like this where it's been such a closely-fought series in the previous three Test matches. Imagine if we would've had to play with 10 men against 11. How unfortunate would this be for us."
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is already approved the injury replacement option at first-class level. Later this year, some boards will incorporate it in their domestic tournaments. But, Stokes feels that teams will find "loopholes". He feels that the concussion replacement is the limit as it is regarding the player's safety.
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous that there's a conversation around an injury replacement," Stokes said. "I think that there would just be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through. You pick your 11 for a game; injuries are part of the game. I completely understand the concussion replacement: player welfare, [and] player safety. But I think the conversation should just honestly stop around injury replacements because if you stick me in an MRI scanner, I could get someone else in straightaway.
"If you stick anyone else with an MRI scanner, a bowler is going to show, 'Oh yeah, you've got a bit of inflammation around your knee. Oh sweet, we can get another fresh bowler in'. I just think that conversation should be shut down and stopped."
Pant's replacement named
Meanwhile, Pant has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test of the series. As India aim to draw the series after salvaging a draw at The Old Trafford, Manchester, Narayan Jagadeesan has received his maiden Test call-up. While India have Dhruv Jurel as the back-up wicketkeeper, it will be interesting to see if Jagadeesan makes his Test debut at Kennington Oval, London in the final Test starting July 31.