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Can Devdutt Padikkal Bat In R Ashwin's Absence In Rajkot Test? What Does The ICC Say? 

image-lsprwicrPadikkal took the field on Day 3 (X.com)

R Ashwin's sudden withdrawal from play ahead of Day 3 in the Rajkot Test gave young Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal the chance to join captain Rohit Sharma's brigade for the first time on the cricket field in Test cricket. 

Padikkal, who was handed a maiden Test call-up as a replacement for injured fellow statemate KL Rahul after a prolific run in the Ranji Trophy and for India A, wouldn't have expected to play a substitute fielder for the remainder of the Test match in Saurashtra after spending two warm days on the sidelines.

However, Ashwin's departure back home in Chennai after achieving the 500 wickets milestone due to a "family emergency", allowed Padikkal to join as the substitute fielder for the great off-spinner and contribute on the outfield for his teammates.


Can Padikkal Bat In The Rajkot Test? 

For those unaware, however, Padikkal won't be allowed to take any part in the bowling or the batting front for the Test match since substitute fielders for injury or any other reason aren't allowed to be direct replacements for the outgoing players, unlike Covid-19 substitutes. 

As per MCC's rule No. 24.1.1.2, a team can have a substitute fielder for a 'wholly acceptable reason'. A substitute cannot bowl, bat or act as a captain but the player can be a wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires on situational grounds. 

Since Padikkal hadn't come into play for COVID-related disturbance in the Indian camp, he couldn't act as a medical replacement for Ashwin. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the ICC has allowed like-for-like COVID-19 substitutes to bat or bowl if a team provides match officials valid proof of one of their players being affected by the virus.

Even if Ashwin was down with a COVID bout, Padikkal couldn't have batted in his place since he doesn't fit the bill as a like-for-like replacement for the spinner.