Match In pics: India register 11-run win vs Australia, but concussion sub Yuzvendra Chahal creates controversy

Australia had won the toss and they inserted India in. They started off well with Mitchell Starc removing the dangerous Shikhar Dhawan with a delivery that knocked the off stump out of the ground. From that point on, Australia dictated the proceedings. KL Rahul got going with a couple of boundaries off Adam Zampa but he kept his best for Sean Abbott, whom he thrashed for a four and a six in the sixth over. However, Mitchell Swepson, the legspinner, got the big wicket of Virat Kohli as the skipper mistimed a pull shot back to the bowler to fall for 9.

Sanju Samson, who was included in the team, smashed Swepson for a big six and he looked confident with a four off Sean Abbott. However, as has been the case with Samson, he threw his wicket away and departed for 23 to give Moises Henreiques his first wicket. Adam Zampa got the better of Manish Pandey who struggled for two runs off eight balls. However, Australia got a massive boost when Rahul holed out to long on after reaching 50. India had lost three wickets for six runs in three overs.

Hardik Pandya tried to get going and he mowed a six off Henriques to the wide long on region but in the quest for aggression, he fell for 16. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)

Ravindra Jadeja smashed a six and two fours in the 19th over, smokd two boundaries in the final over to end on an unbeaten 44 as India smashed 46 runs in the final three overs to help them reach 161/7 in the first Twenty20 International at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday. Ravindra Jadeja looked to up the ante and in the middle of the 19th over, he received some treatment from the physio on his hamstring. However, that short break rejuvenated Ravindra Jadeja and he proceeded to smash two fours and a six in Josh Hazlewood’s over which went for 23 runs.

Jadeja found the boundaries even in the last over bowled by Starc as Australia lost their way in the death overs, giving India a competitive total on this wicket. A total of 161/7 was superb but there would be controversy. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)

Yuzvendra Chahal came to the field as a concussion substitute in place of Ravindra Jadeja. The left-hander was hit on the helmet in the final over bowled by Mitchell Starc. In addition, Ravindra Jadeja was also treated for a hamstring injury. In a statement released by the BCCI, it said, “Ravindra Jadeja was hit on the helmet in the final over of the first innings of the first T20I. Yuzvendra Chahal will take the field in the 2nd innings as a concussion substitute. Jadeja is currently being assessed by the BCCI Medical Team."

This move has clearly not pleased the Australian cricket team, with coach Justin Langer and Aaron Finch visibly expressing their displeasure over the whole incident. Langer, in particular, was not at all happy and he was seen arguing with match referee David Boon. India finished on 161/7 thanks to a brutal knock of 44 by Ravindra Jadeja. Tom Moody, the former Australia player, has expressed his reservations on Twitter when he said, "I have no issue with Jadeja being substitute with Chahal. But I do have an issue with a Doctor & Physio not being present after Jadeja was struck on the helmet which I believe is protocol now?

The concussion substitute rule has been in debate for the past four years and in the 2019 Ashes contest in Lord’s, Marnus Labuschagne became the first concussion substitute after Steve Smith was hit on the side of the neck by Jofra Archer.

According to the new set of rules, the ICC allows players who suffer concussions during a match to be replaced in their team’s playing XI. However, the regulations emphasise on a ‘like-for-like’ replacement for the concussed player and that part still remains to be under dark clouds. Match referees will have a huge say if a team decides to bring a substitute during a match. As per ICC Cricket Operations boss Geoff Allardice, the match referees will determine who the concussion substitute is and he has the power to restrict a player from bowling in order for the replacement to be considered like-for-like. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)

After scoring 52 runs in the powerplay, Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Aaron Finch and Steve Smith. He could have gotten a third but Glenn Maxwell’s shot landed safe. T Natarajan sent back Glenn Maxwell and was almost on a hat-trick. However, such was Australia’s misery that when Moises Henriques was trapped LBW by Deepak Chahar, only KL Rahul appealed and umpire Rod Tucker gave it out. The replays show that had Rahul not appealed, India would not have gotten Moises Henriques wicket. With no boundaries hit in the final few overs, it was only a matter of time before India won the match. T Natarajan picked up three wickets in his debut. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)

India won the match by 11 runs. Speaking after the end of the match, Virat Kohli said, “There were no plans of having Yuzi in the game. Concussion replacements are a strange thing. Today, it worked for us. Yuzi showed character to squeeze the opponents. I thought they had a great start. They were cruising. The batters offered us a few wickets. That is T20 cricket for you. In Australia, you need to play hard and show intensity till the end. He batted beautifully in the last game. Natarajan looks like he can improve a lot. Chahar bowled well as well. Chahal got us back in the game. Hardik's catch was a game changer as well.”

Yuzvendra Chahal, who won the Man of the Match, also said, “I have played so many games and was mentally fit. 10-15 minutes before the start of the innings, I got to know I will play. The way Zampa bowled, I tried to do the same as well. It was a little harder to score in the first innings. 150-160 is a good score on this wicket. I bowled according to my plans.” (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)