Follow UsHarshit Rana, an out-and-out pace bowler replaced Shivam Dube, a batting all-rounder who can bowl pace, as a concussion substitute. This did not make sense.
It was similar to Ravindra Jadeja getting replaced by Yuzvendra Chahal in India’s T20 match against Australia. Even then it was considered not like for like and today too, the same allegations were made.
English captain Jos Buttler showed his displeasure about the same issue. In the post-match press conference, he said, “It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don't agree with that. Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit has improved his batting.”
Buttler, who could score only two runs, said that he or his team were not consulted about the concussion substitute, but refused to call it the only reason for their 15-run loss, which eventually led to his team conceding a 1-3 lead in the five-match series.
"There was no consultation [with us]. That's something I was thinking as I came out to bat - who is Harshit on for? They said he was a concussion replacement, which I 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,” said the 34-year-old.
While Dube had scored an important half-century (53 off 34 balls), Rana, playing his first game, got three crucial wickets to take India to victory.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel washed his hands of the controversy, saying that it was not a forced decision and the match referee Javagal Srinath had it in his hands whether to allow or not allow the like-for-like substitution.
"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.
"It goes to the powers above me - the match referee makes the decision. We can only take the name forward and from there, it is out of our hands,” said Morkel.