England captain Jos Buttler has strongly criticised India’s use of fast bowler Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute in today’s T20 match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
The controversial substitution came after India’s Shivam Dube was struck on the helmet by a Jamie Overton bouncer during India’s innings.
“It’s not a like-for-like replacement, we don’t agree with that,” Buttler said after the match. “Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit has really improved his batting.”
The England skipper revealed he was only informed of the change as he came out to bat, leaving him “quite confused”.
Jos Buttler was furious after England’s defeat to India
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India sealed a 3-1 series victory with a 15-run win in a thrilling contest that saw them recover from early trouble.
The hosts had been reduced to 12-3 after a stunning triple-wicket maiden from Saqib Mahmood in just the second over.
Half-centuries from both Dube and Hardik Pandya, who each scored 53, helped India post a competitive total of 181-9.
England’s chase started strongly but faltered despite Harry Brook’s impressive 51 off 26 balls.
Rana proved decisive in his unexpected role, taking three key wickets including that of Jamie Overton in the penultimate over when England still needed 25 runs from 12 balls.
The controversy centres on cricket’s concussion substitute rules, which state any replacement must be “a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his team.”
Match referee Javagal Srinath, a former India international, approved the switch despite Dube being primarily a batting all-rounder while Rana is a genuine quick bowler.
Buttler pointed out that India had a more suitable replacement available in Ramandeep Singh.
“We had no consultation,” Buttler said. “Maybe at the toss next game, I’ll say we’re going to play 12 as well.”
Buttler plans to seek clarification from match referee Srinath about the controversial decision.
India swapped an all-rounder in Shivam Dube for fast bowler Harshit Rana
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“We’ll ask Javagal some questions,” the England captain said. “I still think we should have gone on to win the match but we disagree with the decision.”
Rana, making his T20 international debut, revealed he only learned of his involvement two overs into England’s chase.
“When Dube came back, two overs into the chase, I was told (about being the concussion substitute),” Rana told broadcasters.
“I have been waiting for this moment to prove myself,” he added, describing it as his “dream debut”.
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England have had a torrid time in India so far and face a dead rubber T20 on Sunday
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England’s chase began promisingly as Phil Salt (23) and Ben Duckett (39) raced to 62 without loss by the end of the powerplay.
The momentum shifted when India turned to spin, with Ravi Bishnoi claiming both Duckett and Buttler in successive overs.
Brook’s aggressive half-century, including consecutive sixes off Rana, kept England in contention until the 15th over.
However, Varun Chakravarthy’s double strike proved crucial, removing Brook and Brydon Carse in quick succession.
The series concludes with a dead rubber at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, before the teams move on to a three-match ODI series.