'After two overs in the England innings, I was told I'm concussion substitute' - Harshit Rana reveals mastermind behind controversial decision

India won the fourth T20I against England at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday, January 31, by 15 runs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. Shivam Dube and Harshit Rana were two of the star performers for India in the pulsating clash. However, only one of them was a part of the playing XI named by the Men in Blue at the toss.

Dube scored a crucial half-century in the first innings and his sixth-wicket partnership of 87 runs with Hardik Pandya helped India recover from a difficult position. The left-handed batter was hit by a Jamie Overton bouncer in the last over of India's innings. Dube was replaced by Harshit Rana in the second innings as the Delhi seamer came in as a concussion substitute. This move paid dividends for the hosts as Rana picked up the wickets of Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and Overton.

Rana revealed that India's head coach Gautam Gambhir told him that he would play as a concussion substitute two overs into the England innings.

"It is still a dream debut for me. When Dube came back (to the dugout), after two overs I was informed by sir (Gambhir) I will be the concussion substitute. It is not just for this series; I have been waiting for an opportunity for a long time, and I wanted to prove I belong here. I have bowled well in the IPL and was just following the same here," Rana told the broadcasters after the match.

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Rana had played two Tests during the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. On Friday, he played his first T20I. The 23-year-old became the first Indian player to make his international debut as a concussion substitute.

India and England will now head to Mumbai where they play the inconsequential fifth T20I at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, February 2.