India defeated England 3-1 in the five-match T20I series, where the last match was still remaining. But this series saw some controversies as young Indian pacer Harshit Rana made a surprising entry for India. Though the reason was a concussion, Harshit showed a great presence on the ground.

Unexpected debut by Harshit Rana

He said that during India's final over, Shivam Dube took a bouncer on the helmet. After initial medical assessment from the team, they replaced Shivam Dube with Harshit Rana before fielding as the match required. In three overs, it was four where he took those three wickets for 33 runs. Interestingly, Dube was the match's 'Player of the Match' after fetching half-century and a good catch for the host.

Talking of his debut performance, Harshit said,

"It still feels like a dream debut for me. I got the news only after Dube walked into the dressing room two overs later. The management informed me that I'd be playing as a concussion substitute, and I was asked to be ready. I have been waiting for this opportunity for four years. I bowled well in the IPL, and I followed the same approach here which gave me good results."

Controversy Around the Substitution

England skipper Jos Buttler was aghast over the decision taken to replace the batting all-round Dube for Harshit-who is nothing more than specialist fast bowler. After the match, the skipper averred,

"This replacement is not correct. We don't agree with it. We were not consulted at all. When I came to bat, I asked why Harshit was fielding, and they told me he was a concussion sub. The match referee made the decision, but we will seek clarification from Javagal Srinath."

Adding to the controversy, Harshit took a crucial catch of Buttler off Ravi Bishnoi’s bowling, leading to widespread debate on social media. Many cricket fans questioned how a bowler was allowed to replace an all-rounder. Former England captains Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan also raised concerns over the ruling.

What Do ICC Rules Say?

The ICC concussion substitute protocol states that a replacement must be like-for-like, meaning:

  • A batter replaces a batter
  • A bowler is replaced by a bowler
  • An all-rounder by an all-rounder

The final decision to be taken is that of the ICC match referee which the opposing teams will not have any right to protest.

This debate has again revived the minds about implementing concussion substitution rules in international cricket.