Mumbai Indians (MI) were allowed to bring on Shardul Thakur as a concussion substitute for Mitchell Santner in their IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a move that attracted some controversy. Here’s what the laws say.
Santner injured himself while diving full-length in front to take Kartik Sharma’s catch in the 17th over of CSK’s innings, who batted first in Mumbai. He immediately held his shoulder and was taken off the field for treatment and played no further part in the game. He had already bowled his four-over spell for a wicket and 44 runs.
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Initially, it seemed like an injury to his left shoulder as it took the maximum impact when he fell forward while taking the catch. Santner was also spotted icing his left shoulder during MI’s chase. His substitution with Thakur, therefore, led to some confusion among fans on social media. Many questioned how MI could replace a player for a shoulder injury.
However, replays showed that Santner had also hit his head on the ground while taking the catch, also possibly twisting his neck.
Shardul Thakur comes on as concussion sub for Mitchell Santner in MI vs CSK - here's what the laws say
Clause 1.2.9 of the IPL 2026 playing conditions that deal with concussion substitutes state that a replacement may be allowed “if a player sustains a concussion or suspected concussion, as a result of a head or neck injury during the course of the relevant match.” The team doctor is then required to “formally diagnose the concussion or suspected concussion” before the team manager submits a formal request to the match referee for a concussion replacement.
The law further adds, “the IPL match referee should ordinarily approve a concussion replacement request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his team for the remainder of the match.”
Furthermore, “if the IPL match referee believes that the inclusion of the nominated concussion replacement, when performing their normal role, would excessively advantage their team, the IPL match referee may impose such conditions upon the identity and involvement of the concussion replacement as he/she sees fit, in line with the overriding objective of facilitating a like-for-like replacement for the concussed player.”
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Bringing on Shardul didn’t change Mumbai’s fortunes in any way as they suffered their biggest-ever defeat in the IPL –a margin of 103 runs. After CSK posted 207 riding on Sanju Samson’s second ton of the season, MI folded for 104 all out, with only the pair of Suryakumar Yadav (35) and Tilak Varma (37) scoring in double digits. Shardul fell for a 12-ball six. Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein starred with figures of 4-17 from his four overs.
Match 33, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
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Image credits: IPL/X
