Ranji Trophy Controversy: Gujarat's Concussion Substitution of Ravi Bishnoi Leads to Kerala Protests Over 'Like-for-Like' Rule

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Ranji Trophy: A major controversy erupted in the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Kerala and Gujarat on February 20 after Gujarat replaced injured spinner Ravi Bishnoi with seamer Hemang Patel as a concussion substitute.

The decision, which appeared to go against the 'like-for-like’ rule, led to animated discussions between Kerala’s players, particularly Jalaj Saxena, and the match officials.

The incident has once again brought the concussion substitution rule into the spotlight, raising concerns over how teams interpret and implement it in domestic cricket.

Ravi Bishnoi’s Injury and Gujarat’s Controversial Substitution

The incident occurred on Thursday’s Day 4 of the match when Bishnoi, stationed at point, attempted to stop a ball but suffered a blow to the face after it ricocheted off his hand. He had earlier dismissed Kerala opener Rohan Kunnummal but was forced to leave the field due to the injury and did not return.

Following Bishnoi’s exit, Gujarat opted to bring in medium-pacer Hemang Patel as his replacement. However, the Ranji Trophy playing conditions mandate that a concussion substitute should be a player with a similar skill set, typically a like-for-like replacement. Kerala players, particularly Jalaj Saxena, were seen protesting the decision, questioning how a spinner could be replaced by a seamer.

Despite Kerala’s objections, the match officials allowed Gujarat to proceed with their substitution, citing a lack of realistic alternatives. Gujarat’s available substitutes included Umang Kumar, Het Patel, and Kshitij Patel, all of whom were batters, making Hemang Patel the only plausible choice.

Patel, who has played just four First-Class matches, made an immediate impact with the bat. Walking in at No. 5, he scored 27 off 41 balls, helping Gujarat edge closer to Kerala’s first-innings total.

Concussion Rule Sparks Debate Again

The controversy surrounding concussion substitutions is not new in Indian cricket. A similar debate arose during the recent India vs England T20I series, when Harshit Rana was brought in as a substitute for Shivam Dube. The incident led to discussions over the fairness and consistency of concussion replacements, with teams often finding loopholes to gain an advantage.

According to ICC’s playing conditions (1.2.7.3) for concussion substitutions, a replacement must be a like-for-like player whose inclusion does not excessively benefit the team. While Gujarat’s decision was technically within the regulations due to the lack of another available spinner, Kerala’s protest highlights the grey areas in the rule’s enforcement.

Ranji Trophy: Kerala’s Strong First Innings and Gujarat’s Fightback

Before the controversy, Kerala had posted an impressive 457 in their first innings, led by wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Azharuddeen’s unbeaten 177 off 341 balls. The innings progressed at a slow pace, with Kerala maintaining a run rate below 2.5 over two full days and the first session of Day 3.

Gujarat, in response, launched a solid counterattack. Priyank Panchal led the charge with a brilliant 148, forming a 131-run opening stand with Aarya Desai (73). Jaymeet Patel (74)* and Siddharth Desai (24)* also contributed as Gujarat reached 429/7 in 154 overs by stumps on Day 4, keeping them in contention for a first-innings lead.

Brief Scores:
Kerala: 457
Gujarat: 429/7 in 154 overs (Priyank Panchal 148, Jaymeet Patel 74*, Aarya Desai 73, Manan Hingrajia 33, Siddharth Desai 24*; Jalaj Saxena 4/137) Stumps Day 4

With the match delicately poised, Gujarat will aim to claim the lead, while Kerala will look to strike early on the final day to regain control. However, the bigger talking point remains the concussion substitution debate, which could have far-reaching implications for how such decisions are made in future Ranji Trophy matches.