Former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Australian coach Justin Langer after he seemed disappointed with the match referee’s call to allow Yuzvendra Chahal to play as a concussion substitute for India. As it turned out, his spell of 3 for 25 turned out to be a match-winning one for India to give his team a lead in the series. Meanwhile, Langer was seen to have an animated conversation with David Boon after he allowed Chahal to play for Ravindra Jadeja.
Talking to India Today, Sunil Gavaskar said that when match referee David Boon had no objection to the concussion substitute rule, the Australian coach should not have questioned the match referee’s decision.
“The match referee is an Australian, he is a former Australian cricketer David Boon. He was okay with Chahal substituting Jadeja” said Gavaskar.
Also Read: Aaron Finch Doubtful For All-Important 2nd T20I Against India
He further spoke all the fuss about like for like replacement which is one of the newly laid rules in the game of cricket.
“They normally say like for like, you can argue that Chahal’s not an all-rounder but anyone who goes out with the bat whether he scores 1 run of 100 runs is an all-rounder as far as I’m concerned. And he bowls so it’s a like for like replacement. And the Australian match referee had no objection so I don’t see why there is so much of noise about it,” he added.
Sunil Gavaskar On Like For Like Replacement
The former Indian batsman concluded by saying that he is not a fan of the concussion substitute rule himself but respects it since its is for the safety of the players in the game today.
“On the business of concussion substitute itself I don’t agree because maybe I’m old-fashioned, I’ve always believed that if you’re not good enough to play the bouncer and you get hit on the helmet then you don’t deserve substitutes. But at the moment it is being allowed and according to the rules of the game, everything was done according to it and there was no problem with Chahal playing instead of Ravindra Jadeja,” Gavaskar concluded saying.
The second T20I between India and Australia will be played at the SCG on Sunday.
Also Read: Aaron Finch Miffed With The Concussion Substitute In The 1st T20I
