Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has asked England captain Ben Stokes to "think before speaking" after his comments on injury substitutions during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Ashwin said that Stokes’ remarks lacked empathy and reminded him that "karma hits instantly."
The debate started after Rishabh Pant suffered a fractured toe in the fourth Test but still came out to bat the next day. India coach Gautam Gambhir suggested that rules should allow a like-for-like replacement for such injuries. Stokes dismissed the idea and called it "ridiculous."
In the fifth Test at The Oval, Chris Woakes injured his shoulder on Day 1 and could not bowl for the rest of the match. Like Pant, he also showed grit and walked out to bat with a strapped arm. But England could not win that match as India won by six runs and drew the series 2-2.
Advertisement
Also read: Series of Records: Highlights from India vs England 2025 Test Series
"Think Before You Speak" - Ravichandran Ashwin Responds to Ben Stokes in Heated Substitution Row
Ravichandran Ashwin did not mince words while addressing Ben Stokes’ stance. He criticised Stokes’ dismissive tone when responding to Gambhir’s suggestion about rule change after Pant’s injury.
"I want to talk about another imperfection in this series. There's a Tamil saying that loosely translates to 'Your karma will affect you almost instantly'. What you sow is what you reap," Ashwin said as quoted on his YouTube channel.
"After the last Test, there were questions asked about the injury to Pant. Gautam Gambhir said that such injuries need a substitution. And when Stokes was asked about this response, he simply brushed it away, calling it a joke. I am a big fan of Stokes' cricketing abilities and his attitude. But he can think and then reply," he added.
Quoting former England captain Michael Vaughan, Ashwin stressed that the game needs to adapt.
"Michael Vaughan said this is one area where the game can evolve. Substitutions should be allowed. All I’m saying is: show a little empathy for the other team. Stokes should have considered what it would be like if a player of Rishabh Pant’s calibre was in his team and got injured. Wouldn’t you want a substitution? Wouldn’t that be fair? You are free to share your opinion — but using words like ‘joke’ and ‘ridiculous’ isn’t respectful. Think before you speak. Karma hits instantly," Ashwin highlighted.
Advertisement
Ben Stokes Sticks to His Words
Despite England suffering from Woakes’ injury in the series finale, Stokes stuck to his original stance. The England skipper, who himself missed the Test due to an injury, addressed the issue in the post-match press conference and refused to back down from his comments. He said:
"I don’t see it [injury substitutes] being a thing. Sorry about this, but if someone gets injured tough s***, deal with it. That’s how we view it."
