The fourth T20I match between India and England created a controversy when India replaced Shivam Dube with Harshit Rana as a replacement due to a concussion. England's captain, Jos Buttler, and commentators criticized this move, wondering if it was a proper replacement.
The Incident Leading to the Substitution
Shivam Dube was important in India's innings, getting 53 runs from 34 balls. His performance helped steady India after a rough beginning, especially with an 87-run pair with Hardik Pandya.
However, on the penultimate ball of the innings, Dube was hit on the helmet by a sharp 141.5kph bouncer from Jamie Overton. This hit sparked worries about his ability to keep playing in the match. Reports from sources like bet pro exchange highlighted.
During the break between innings, Dube mentioned he had a slight headache, so India asked to replace him due to a possible concussion. The match referee allowed Harshit Rana to replace him, quickly leading to discussions among England's players and pundits.
How England Reacted: Buttler Doubts the Decision
Jos Buttler openly expressed his disagreement with the choice.
"It's not an exact match." "We don't agree with that," Buttler said after India won the match by 15 runs. "Shivam Dube must have increased his bowling speed by about 25mph, or Harshit has really gotten better at batting."
Buttler was frustrated because Dube is mainly a batting all-rounder, while Rana is a fast spinner. "We were not consulted." As I went out to bat, I wanted to know what Harshit played for. They said he was replacing someone with a headache, but I disagreed.
It is not precisely the same kind of replacement. They told the match judge to make the call. We had no control over it and weren't involved at all. "We'll ask Javagal [Srinath] some questions to help us understand it better."
Despite feeling frustrated, Buttler admitted that the ruling wasn't the main reason England lost. "We had opportunities to win the game and could have taken them." "I'd like to understand that better."
ICC rules on concussion substitutes.
The ICC rules for men's T20 matches state that a match judge can only allow a concussion substitute if the new player is similar to the injured player and does not give the team too much advantage. The judge must consider what the wounded player does in the game and how that compares to the player set to take their place.
In this situation, Dube was an important middle-order batter who sometimes bowled quickly. India had Ramandeep Singh, another batting all-rounder, on the bench, who might have been a more suitable like-for-like alternative. India chose Harshit Rana, a fast bowler, and this decision caused debate.
Experts are questioning the exchange.
Former England cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Nick Knight, who were commentating during the change, also expressed their worries. "Pietersen said that Rana is not the same kind of player as Shivam Dube." "If you ask anyone in the world, they'll give you the same answer." Dube is not a genuine fast bowler, but Rana is. Nick Knight shared similar thoughts, asking why India didn't choose a player with hitting and bowling skills like Dube.
India's Explanation: The decision was not in their control.
India's assistant coach Morne Morkel said the team made the right choice and followed the correct steps. "Shivam left the field during the innings break because he had a slight headache." We suggested a name for a substitution to the match referee, and now it's up to the judge to decide.
Morkel pointed out that after the match, the judge agreed to the change, and India could no longer do anything about it. Harshit was having dinner when the choice was made. So we had to get him ready to go on the field and bowl as quickly as possible. The choice is made by the match referee, who is in charge. We can only move the name forward; after that, it's no longer in our control.
Harshit Rana's Effect on the Game
Even with the disagreements, Harshit Rana quickly affected the game. He came in during the 12th over and took a wicket with his second ball, getting Liam Livingstone out with a bouncy delivery that hit the edge of the bat.
Rana finished his total overs and took three crucial wickets. He was also positioned as a short third man when Jos Buttler got out, surprising the England captain. Buttler looked unhappy as he went back to the pavilion, talking with head coach Brendon McCullum, likely about the substitution choice.
Rana Thinks About His First Performance
After the fight, Rana talked about how he had to jump in suddenly.
"Two overs into the chase, I was told [about being the concussion replacement]. I have been getting ready for a long time, not just for this series. I have been waiting for this moment [his start] to show what I can do. When I had the opportunity, I didn't consider the situation; I just focused on getting the job done.
Rana said his time with KKR in the IPL helped him manage pressure better. "I have experience bowling in the final overs and used that."
To read more blog: Maxwell Wins Sixers Match After Test Snub
The discussion goes on
India won the game, but discussions about the rules for injury substitutes are still ongoing. The ICC's strategy focuses on keeping players safe while ensuring fair play. This incident raises questions about how the rules are understood and if we need more precise guidelines to avoid unfair benefits.
England will focus on recovering in the series instead of getting caught up in the debate. This case might lead the ICC to talk about improving the rules for headache substitutes to make sure future matches are fair and follow the same standards.
