Jayawardene defends Shardul Thakur’s concussion substitution for Mitchell Santner

Mumbai Indians drew questions over their use of Shardul Thakur as a concussion substitute for Mitchell Santner, prompting head coach Mahela Jayawardene to explain the thinking.

What happened

Santner left the field in the 17th over after taking a diving catch at deep square leg. The New Zealand spinner was seen holding his left shoulder while physios treated him, and replays suggested his head may also have touched the ground on landing.

Thakur came in as the substitute during Mumbai’s innings, but images of Santner with an ice pack on his shoulder led many to ask whether the move fitted concussion protocols. Thakur had little impact, making six off 12 balls in a poor batting display from Mumbai.

Jayawardene’s explanation

Jayawardene said Santner had in fact been hit on the head as well as injuring his shoulder. He said the all-rounder felt dizzy and was sent for a scan, so the team asked for a concussion replacement. The final decision, he added, lies with the match referee and umpires, who approved it after assessing the situation. He hoped the injury was not serious.

Earlier, Santner bowled his full quota, finishing with 1 for 44, including the early wicket of Sarfaraz Khan. He had also dealt with a minor shoulder issue earlier in the season.

What the rules say

Under IPL playing conditions, a concussion substitute is allowed when a player suffers a head or neck injury during the match, subject to medical confirmation and the match referee’s approval. The replacement must be a like-for-like player and must not give the team an unfair advantage.