After Shreyas Iyer walked off the field in visible pain following his stunning catch to dismiss Alex Carey, questions started swirling among fans — could India bring in a concussion substitute for the injured vice-captain?
Here’s the reality: under ICC regulations, a concussion substitute (con sub) is permitted only when a player suffers a head or neck injury that is formally assessed and confirmed by the match officials and medical team as a concussion.
In Shreyas Iyer’s case, the injury was to his left hip, sustained while diving backward to complete the catch. Since it does not fall under the definition of a concussion-related injury, India cannot officially replace him under the concussion substitute rule.
If his injury is severe enough to prevent him from batting later in the innings, India will have to continue with one player effectively out of action. The only alternative for such cases would be a standard substitute fielder, who is allowed to field but cannot bat or bowl.
As of now, the BCCI medical staff is monitoring Iyer’s condition, but with the extent of discomfort visible on his face, a return to the field — let alone to bat — seems highly unlikely.
This could prove to be a major setback for India, as Iyer has been a key part of the middle order and was expected to anchor the chase at the SCG.
