Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin questioned the on-field officials and match referee for allowing Harshit Rana to come in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube during the fourth T20I between India and England at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
With Dube being hit on the helmet during his brilliant knock of 53, it was determined during the innings break that the all-rounder hadn't been deemed fit to field.
As a result, pace bowler Harshit was brought in as a concussion substitute and he made a decisive difference in the game, returning with the figures of 4-0-33-3 to script India’s 15-run victory.
The move to bring Harshit for Dube has been widely debated as the ICC rules state that only like-for-like replacements can be fielded by teams when one of the players gets concussed on the field.
Speaking on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat', Ashwin said it seemed like the officials forgot that it was an international match and it was a case of "pure cricketing miscalculation."
"The game is done. India capture yet another series at home. T20I has been a real juggernaut of a win. What was this game? It was like a replica of the IPL. Supersub was there, and the game was played with an impact player," Ashwin stated.
"The entire discussion is about how Harshit Rana came in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube. Did we forget that it was an international match and not an IPL match? I can understand. It has happened in the past. Ravindra Jadeja got concussed in Canberra, and Yuzvendra Chahal came in as a substitute. I don't understand this. At least previously, Chahal came in for Jadeja, a spinner for a spinner," he added.
The former India off-spinner also opined that Ramandeep Singh should have been the ideal concussion substitute for Shivam Dube and not Harshit Rana.
"Here, Harshit came in for Shivam Dube. There is no role of the Indian or England team. If there is no one in the squad, then you can say that Harshit Rana can bat a bit and Shivam Dube can bowl a bit, that's why we brought him in. Like-for-like replacement Ramandeep Singh was sitting outside. I don't understand," said Ashwin.
"This is a case of pure cricketing miscalculation, either on the part of the umpires or the part of the match referee. Ramandeep Singh was there, like-for-like for Shivam Dube. But not him. Harshit Rana was chosen as the concussion substitute. I think people in charge should look into this," he remarked.
India clinched the series with the win in Pune and will go to Mumbai for Sunday’s fifth and final T20I on the back of a 3-1 lead.
