IND v ENG 2025: “Respectfully disagree with the decision from Javagal,” McCullum on Dube-Rana concussion sub controversy

The incident unfolded in the fourth T20I between India and England in Pune.

Brendon McCullum | XEngland's head coach Brendon McCullum felt his team was ‘a touch tentative’ in the just-concluded T20I series against India. The tourists lost the five-match series 4-1.

Indian spinners dominated the English batters throughout the series. In particular, Varun Chakravarthy proved to be the biggest nemesis, returning with 14 wickets at an average of 9.85 and an economy rate of 7.66.

“At times, we’ve been a touch tentative. We want to keep trying to apply pressure. Particularly when they’ve got such a good batting lineup, you don’t really have a time where you can just take time out of the game. Four or five years ago in T20 cricket it was like that, and I think we’ve seen it evolve so quickly that there is no dead time now,” McCullum said, as quoted by The Guardian.

“I think our guys are really good players of spin. We’ve probably not been at our best against them but credit goes to Chakaravarthy and [Ravi] Bishnoi as well. I know the scoreline reads 4-1 and it’s disappointing to lose the series but Rome wasn’t built in a day. I think we’ve seen a pretty clear gameplan of how we want to play the game,” he added.

The two teams will now square off in three ODIs, starting on February 6 in Nagpur. The 50-over series will be the final dress rehearsal for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, slated to be held in Pakistan and UAE from February 19 to March 9.

Seasoned batter Joe Root will join the England side for the ODI series. Known for his exceptional skills against spin, Root is considered a possible solution for England’s woes, given that the T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka next year.

“We have a little while to go before we get to the World Cup,” McCullum said. “We will make decisions like that down the line. I think it’s too far to forecast that. The good thing about a series like this is it builds that bank of knowledge of playing in these conditions and playing against very good teams and the level of risks you need to operate at, and we will be better off for it.”

On a separate note, McCullum questioned the match referee (Javagal Srinath) 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 series-clinching 15-run victory.

“We respectfully disagree with the decision from Javagal [Srinath, the match referee] to allow someone with a different skillset to step into that role.”

“I had a quick chat to Javagal after. It was lighthearted, and there was no emotion involved. It was just trying to understand how we got to that decision. We respectfully disagreed and we moved on.”

Commenting on Dube’s inclusion for the series finale, two days on from a blow to the helmet, McCullum said: “I was a little bit surprised because I was just worried about player welfare. Concussion is well known now in any sport and there’s a lot more known about how ­dangerous they can be. Especially when you have guys bowling 90mph. The decision was made that he would play and I’m sure the Indian medical team were comfortable with that.”

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 04 Feb, 2025

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