Jos Buttler has questioned whether Harshit Rana was a 'like-for-like' replacement for Shivam Dube after he was brought on as a concussion substitute in the fourth T20I between England and India in Pune.
India were able to bring Rana onto the field after Dube was hit on the head by a 141.5kph bumper from Jamie Overton in the last over of India's innings. Dube had come in when India were 53-4 following a burst of early wickets from England, including a three wicket opening over from Saqib Mahmood. He scored 53 off 34 balls to help set England a target of 182.
Rana was brought on to replace Dube in the XI for the chase under the concussion sub rule, leading to criticism from Buttler in the post-game press conference over whether Rana fit the definition of a like-for-like replacement. Rana took three wickets as England collapsed to 166 all out.
"It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don't agree with that," said Buttler. "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. 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.
"Like I said, it was not the whole reason why we did not win the match. We had our chances to win the game which we could have still taken. But I'd like to have a bit more clarity on that."
🔽: Shivam Dube
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 31, 2025
🔼: Harshit Rana
One is a batting all-rounder, the other a bowler – who took three crucial wickets after coming on as a concussion sub.
How were they deemed "like-for-like"?
READ: https://t.co/BBOv8krSik#INDvENG #HarshitRana #ShivamDube pic.twitter.com/Oo2nKur8px
While Rana is an out and out quick, Dube largely plays as an allrounder who can bowl seam up medium pace. He has taken 11 wickets in 34 T20Is for India. While Rana bowled his full quota of four overs to England making his T20I debut in Pune, Dube has only got through his full quota twice in his T20I career. India also had batting allrounder Ramandeep Singh in their squad who they could have put forward as Dube's replacement.
Under clause 1.2.7.4 of the ICC's playing conditions, the concussion sub rule states: "In assessing whether the nominated Concussion Replacement should be considered a like-for-like player, the ICC Match Referee should consider the likely role the concussed player would have played during the remainder of the match, and the normal role that would be performed by the nominated Concussion Replacement.
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"The ICC Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Concussion Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his/her team for the remainder of the match."
Assistant India coach Morne Morkel said of the decision to bring on Rana as the replacement: "Shivam came off the field in the innings break with mild headache symptoms. We took a name forward to the match referee in terms of a suitable substitution, and from there it is up to the match referee to make the decision. When the decision was made, Harshit was having dinner. So we had to get him ready as quickly as possible to go on the field and bowl."
During the game, Kevin Pietersen also criticised the decision to allow Rana to replace Dube. Speaking on the TV coverage, Pietersen said: “If you ask anybody in the world whether Harshit Rana is a like-for-like replacement, I’m not sure anyone would say that they are. He gets an extra bit of pace. He is a tall, bustling fast bowler. I can tell you something now, that England dressing room will not be happy. Jos Buttler wasn’t happy when he got out because of the substitution. It’s not like for like.
England lost the game by 15 runs, conceding the series at 3-1 going into the final match tomorrow (February 2) in Mumbai.
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