Ben Stokes Mocks Injury Replacement Debate; Gautam Gambhir Responds: ‘What If We Had to Play with 10?’

Ben Stokes firmly dismissed the idea of injury replacements, arguing that its implementation could lead teams to exploit potential loopholes for strategic gain.

Gautam Gambhir and Ben Stokes Clash Over Injury Replacements in Test Cricket

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and England captain Ben Stokes find themselves on opposite sides of the debate surrounding injury replacements in Test cricket. The controversy reignited after Rishabh Pant fractured his foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test. While Dhruv Jurel was allowed to keep wickets in Pant’s absence, the injured star had to return to bat in visible pain due to the current rules disallowing batting substitutes.

Ben Stokes dismissed the suggestion of injury replacements outright, warning that such a rule could be exploited. “I think it is absolutely ridiculous there is a conversation around an injury replacement. There would be too many loopholes for a team to go through. You pick an 11 for the game, injuries are part of it. I think that conversation should be shut down,” Stokes said at the post-match press conference.

‘I’m all for injury replacement’: Gambhir

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and England captain Ben Stokes have sparked a heated debate over the possibility of injury replacements in Test cricket following Rishabh Pant’s foot fracture during the Manchester Test. While Stokes dismissed the idea outright, calling it “ridiculous” and open to exploitation, Gambhir offered a starkly contrasting view.

Gambhir believes injury replacements should be permitted if the injury is serious and visibly evident, and only after proper assessment by the umpires and match referee. “Absolutely, I’m all for it,” he said, emphasizing fairness in a tightly contested series like the ongoing one. “Imagine playing with 10 men against 11—it would be unfortunate.”

This clash of perspectives—between maintaining the purity of the traditional format and adapting to ensure player safety—has reignited the broader discussion on how Test cricket should evolve in the modern era.

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