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-year𓃲-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-centuꦛry 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 a🏅ny 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 whetꦉher the substitution was of like-for-like nature or not.
England captain Jos Buttler showed his displeasure𝔍 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'ওs 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 anyo💜ne in the world, and they will say the same thing. Dube is not a genuine pacer, but Rana is."
R꧂ana, 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.
