Ranji Trophy: Gujarat invokes concussion sub rule to replace spinner Bishnoi with pacer; Kerala objects

Ranji Trophy: Gujarat invokes concussion sub rule to replace spinner Bishnoi with pacer; Kerala objects

Gujarat spinner Ravi Bishnoi was substituted off the field following a concussion during the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Kerala on Thursday.

Medium-pacer Hemang Patel was brought in as the replacement for the Indian spinner. Hemang has scored 119 runs in four First-Class matches, with a highest score of 41. He walked in to bat at number five following the dismissal of opener Priyank Panchal.

Bishnoi suffered a blow to the head while attempting to stop a ball at point during Kerala’s first innings on Wednesday. The ball ricocheted off his hand onto his face as he dived, after which he was taken off the field. Bishnoi had picked up the solitary wicket of Rohan Kunnummal in the first innings.

Kerala spinner Jalaj Saxena was seen in discussion with the umpire after the substitution, questioning the replacement of a spinner with a seamer. The playing conditions state that the replacement for a concussed player should be ‘like-for-like’.

However, the three other substitute options for Gujarat — Umang Kumar, Het Patel and Kshitij Patel — were batters, leaving Hemang as the only plausible choice.

Hemang walked into bat at No. 5 and scored a 41-ball 27 to aid Gujarat’s push to secure a first-innings lead.

The concussion rule was also a point of debate during the recent T20I series between India and England, when Harshit Rana was brought in as a substitute for Shivam Dube.

Kerala posted 457 in its first innings, courtesy of an unbeaten 177 from wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen. In reply, a 148-run knock from Panchal, who shared a 131-run opening stand with Aarya Desai, has helped Gujarat stay on track to overcome the first-innings total.