Harshit Rana Becomes First Player To Make T20I Debut As Concussion Substitute

In a highly-debated decision during the fourth T20I between India and England, Harshit Rana replaced Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute and played a crucial role in the series-sealing victory of the Men In Blue in Pune. (Live Blog | More Cricket News)

🔯The 23-year-old pacer took the wickets of Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell and Jamie Overton in India's 15-run win in the fourth T20I against England. The player he replaced, Dube, had earlier struck a half-century and grabbed the Player of the Match award.

Even as the decision sparked controversy, Rana became the first player in T20I cricket ♔to make his debut as a concussion substitute. He also became the first Indian to make his debut in any format as a concussion substitute.

⛎The fact that Rana, a bowler, replaced Dube, a batting all-rounder, irked a debate in the cricketing circle on whether the substitution was of like-for-like nature or not.

England captain Jos Buttler 🌳showed his displeasure on the decision in the post-match interview.

"It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don't agree with that," Buttler said. "Either Shivam Dube ♔has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit has really improved his batting. It's part of the game and we really should have gone on to win the match, but we disagree with the decision.

♉"There was no consultation [with us]. That's something I was thinking as I came out to bat - who is Harshit on for? They said he is a concussion replacement, which I obviously disagreed with. It is not a like-for-like replacement. They said that the match referee had made the decision. We had no say in it or any part of it. But we'll ask Javagal [Srinath] some questions just to get some clarity around it."

🥂The commentators on air also found the move odd. Ex-England cricketer Kevin Pietersen said that it was not a like-to-like replacement.

🤪"He [Rana] is not the like-to-like replacement for Shivam Dube," Pietersen had said on air. "You ask anyone in the world, and they will say the same thing. Dube is not a genuine pacer, but Rana is."

𓆏Rana, who made his India debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, finished his maiden T20I with three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs.