The India Cricket Team has lost ace all-rounder Ravi Ashwin for the IND vs ENG 3rd Test. Ashwin has withdrawn himself from the Rajkot Test owing to a family emergency. Now Team India is in a major fix. The question arises – Can India call in a substitute player for Ashwin?
The ICC laws are very clear regarding the substitutes and replacements. With no Ashwin, India will have to bank on their remaining four bowlers to work the hard yards.
But the pertinent question remains – Who can replace Ashwin in the team? The ICC law clearly states that a substitute player can only replace a fielder in the play. On the other hand, replacement players can only be used during concussions and Covid-19 emergencies.
ICC Law: A Substitute is a player who takes the place of a fielder on the field of play, but does not replace the player for whom he substitutes on that side’s list of nominated players. A substitute’s activities are limited to fielding.
Since a substitute isn’t allowed to bowl, India can’t bring on another player who will easily roll his arms and complete the bowling quota in Ashwin’s absence. Neither can a replacement be used in this case. Neither did Ashwin suffer a concussion, nor did he test positive for Covid.
Under such a scenario, India can only bring in a substitute fielder.
What happened to Ashwin?
Ravichandran Ashwin withdrew his name from the Rajkot Test. The 37-year-old has left the India squad for the Test match with immediate effect. Later on, it was revealed that Ashwin had traveled back to Chennai as his mother had been hospitalized.