England captain Jos Buttler expressed his dissatisfaction with India’s decision to introduce Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube during the fourth T20I match in Pune, which the hosts won the match by 15 runs, securing an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series.
Dube, who played a crucial knock of 53 runs off 34 balls, was struck on the helmet by a Jamie Overton‘s delivery in the final over of India’s innings. After being assessed by medical staff and subsequently not taking the field for England’s chase, Rana was brought in as a concussion substitute. Rana made an immediate impact, claiming 3 wickets for 33 runs and playing a decisive role in India’s victory.
Jos Buttler criticizes ‘like-for-like’ substitution
During the post-match press conference, Buttler strongly disagreed with the substitution, questioning its adherence to the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules for concussion replacements.
“Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25 mph with the ball or Harshit has really improved his batting. It’s not a like-for-like replacement, we don’t agree with that. It’s part of the game; I still think we should have gone on to win the match but we disagree with the decision,” Buttler stated.
Notably, the ICC’s concussion substitute guidelines stipulate that the replacement player should be a like-for-like substitute who does not provide the team with an undue advantage. However, match referee Javagal Srinath approved India’s request for Rana as Dube’s replacement, leading to the controversy.
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Lack of consultation fuels frustration
Buttler also highlighted the lack of communication between the officials and England’s team management regarding the decision, emphasizing that such a crucial ruling should have been discussed with both teams beforehand. He expressed his disappointment over being informed about the substitution only after it had already been approved and implemented, leaving England with no opportunity to raise objections or seek clarification in real time.
“There was no consultation. As I came out to bat, I asked the umpire why Harshit was on the field, and he said he’s the concussion sub, which I was quite confused by,” Buttler remarked.
The incident has triggered a debate over the interpretation of the concussion substitute rule. Former England cricketers, including Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook, have also questioned the decision, emphasizing the disparity between Dube, a batting all-rounder, and Rana, a specialist fast bowler with limited batting ability in T20 cricket.
India defend the decision
India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, defended the team’s move, asserting that the decision was made solely based on Dube’s health concerns. He also stated that it was ultimately up to the match referee to approve the substitution.
With the controversy gaining momentum, discussions surrounding the concussion substitute rule and its implementation are likely to continue, adding another layer of intrigue to the ongoing series.