Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin wants the rule-makers ICC to look into concussion sub rule after controversy in the fourth T20I between India and England at Pune. Shivam Dube was hit on the helmet in the last over of the Indian batting innings by Jamie Overton.
Subsequently, match referee Javagal Srinath approved Harshit Rana as the concussion sub, which surprised many cricket boffins. England captain Jos Buttler also criticized the decision and said it was not a like-for-like replacement.
“If the ICC Match Referee believes that the inclusion of the nominated Concussion Replacement, when performing their normal role, would excessively advantage their team, the ICC Match Referee may impose such conditions upon the identity and involvement of the Concussion Replacement as he/she sees fit, in line with the overriding objective of facilitating a like-for-like replacement for the concussed player,” reads the rule.
Ashwin recalled that specialist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had replaced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in a T20I against Australia and thus a similar incident had happened earlier.
The off-spinner said on his YouTube Channel, “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 play 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.
Ashwin urged ICC and MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) to look into this pandora box.
“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.”
“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,” he added.
The fifth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
