'This is a case of pure cricketing miscalculation' - Ravichandran Ashwin shares honest opinion on concussion sub controversy
"India capture yet another series at home. T20I has been a real juggernaut of a win. But my question is, whether we forgot it was an international game and played an IPL match?" Ashwin asked.
One of the major talking points from the fourth T20I between India and England in Pune was the concussion substitute controversy surrounding Harshit Rana and Shivam Dube. A Jamie Overton bouncer hit The latter on his helmet in the first innings. He continued batting after clearing the fitness test. However, he couldn't field in the second innings as Harshit Rana was introduced as the concussion substitute. The Delhi seamer took three wickets and played a pivotal role in India's 15-run win which helped them take an unassailable 3-1 lead with a game to spare.
Many experts questioned the move of allowing a frontline pacer like Harshit to come on as a concussion substitute for Dube, who is a batting all-rounder. The legendary Ravichandran Ashwin said that India had Ramandeep Singh on their side, someone who could have been a like-for-like replacement for Dube.
"The game is done. India captured yet another series at home. T20I has been a real juggernaut of a win. But my question is, whether we forgot it was an international game and played an IPL match? Because today all the discussion was on how Shivam Dube's concussion substitute. I can understand it has happened in the past too. In Canberra, Yuzvendra Chahal replaced Ravindra Jadeja," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"You can call poetic justice, or in fact poetic injustice. I don't understand it. At least earlier, Chahal replaced Ravindra Jadeja. Here, Harshit Rana replaced Shivam Dube. There is no role for 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 former India off-spinner urged the people in charge to take a closer look at this incident. He warned that India could find themselves on the receiving end of such a move in the future.
"This is a case of pure cricketing miscalculation, either on the part of the umpires or the part of the match referee or whoever be it. Ramandeep Singh was there, a batter who can vall a bit, 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. Today it happened against England and hurt, some day India might be hurt too," Ashwin opined.
The fifth and final T20I between India and England is set to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, February 2.
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