In the fourth India-England T20I, specialist pacer Harshit Rana was a concussion substitute for all-rounder Shivam Dube – a clause in the ICC's laws allowing India to do so despite the two not being "like-for-like" players.
Off the penultimate ball of the first innings, Dube, who scored 53, was struck on the helmet by a Jamie Overton bouncer. He was checked briefly by the Indian team physio, before going on to face the last delivery of the innings, taking India to 181-9.
Initially, Dube did not come out to field in the second innings, with Ramandeep Singh standing in as a substitute fielder. As the innings wore on, Dube did not take the field and it emerged that Harshit Rana was on the ground instead.
4th T20I, India vs England
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There were explanations ventured by the broadcast commentators that Rana may be a concussion substitute for Dube, given the blow the latter had taken earlier on – this was confirmed at the end of the 10th over, meaning this was now officially Rana's T20I debut.
Why was the Harshit Rana-Shivam Dube concussion sub controversial?
England captain Jos Buttler was not happy with the decision to allow Rana to replace Dube, and former England international Kevin Pietersen said on commentary that he didn't like the call.
The ICC playing conditions state that a concussion substitute must be a "like-for-like" replacement for a concussed player. Dube is largely a batting all-rounder, who can bowl seam-up, but rarely does so for India.
Rana, on the other hand, is a specialist pace bowler, who can swing the bat a bit – meaning the argument can be made that these two players are not like-for-like.
Dube has bowled nine overs in his last 12 T20Is, while Rana, making his T20I debut, has just two T20 runs to his name.
