Mumbai Indians' use of Shardul Thakur as concussion replacement for Mitchell Santner during their Wankhede match against CSK in April 2026 placed the IPL's like-for-like concussion-substitution rule under public scrutiny. Critics argued that an all-rounder for a frontline spinner was not a like-for-like swap. MI's coaching staff, led by Mahela Jayawardene, defended the call as procedurally correct.
Santner sustained a head injury during the match and was withdrawn from the playing XI under the IPL's concussion-substitution protocol. MI nominated Shardul Thakur as the replacement. The match referee, applying the rule's like-for-like requirement, accepted the swap.
The on-field result was that MI substituted a frontline left-arm spinner for a medium-fast-bowling all-rounder. The like-for-like principle, in its strict reading, requires the replacement player to have a similar skillset and role to the injured player. Critics — including former players on broadcast commentary — argued that Thakur for Santner did not satisfy the principle.
Mahela Jayawardene clarified at the post-match press conference that the swap had been approved by the match referee and that MI had followed the protocol exactly. Santner subsequently missed the GT match on 26 April. MI eventually signed Keshav Maharaj as Santner's longer-term injury replacement.
MI vs CSK at Wankhede — Santner sustains head injury
Withdrawn from playing XI under IPL concussion protocol
MI nominate Shardul Thakur as replacement
Match referee approves the swap as like-for-like
Critics argue all-rounder for frontline spinner is not like-for-like
Jayawardene clarifies at post-match press conference: protocol followed exactly
Santner subsequently misses 26 April GT match
MI sign Keshav Maharaj as Santner's longer-term injury replacement
Match referee approved Shardul Thakur as Mitchell Santner's concussion replacement under the IPL's like-for-like protocol. MI followed the rule exactly. The case sharpened public debate about the strict interpretation of like-for-like for spinners replaced by all-rounders.
Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals
29 May 2026
The Qualifier 2 toss between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals at Mullanpur had to be conducted twice after match referee Prakash Bhatt failed to hear Riyan Parag's call — a visible frustration for Shubman Gill who appeared to have won the original toss before the do-over.
Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders
26 April 2026
Kartik Tyagi bowled two beamers in the final over of LSG's chase but was allowed to continue — umpires called only one dangerous — sparking IPL fury.
Various county and representative sides
1864-06-01
The legalisation of overarm bowling in 1864 created an immediate grey zone: how high could the arm go, and at what point did a fast delivery become an illegal throw? Through the 1860s English cricket struggled with this question as a succession of fast bowlers developed actions that umpires suspected but rarely no-balled, creating a climate of suspicion that would recur in every generation of cricket thereafter.