Gavaskar slams Team India management over concussion substitution controversy: 'There's nothing like-for-like'

The controversy surrounding Harshit Rana coming on as a concussion substitute Shivam Dube is refusing to die down with legendary Sunil Gavaskar slamming the decision. Dube, who scored 53 off 34 balls in the fourth T20I against England at Pune, was hit on the helmet on the penultimate ball of India’s innings before getting out on the next ball.

He did not field for India and was replaced by Rana who went on to take three wickets as a concussion substitute, helping India take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series with a 15-run win.

The decision to allow Rana, who is known for his blowing capabilities, as a replacement for batting-allrounder Dube has sparked a massive controversy with ICC match referee Javagal Srinath facing the burnt for approving the substitution.

England captain Jos Buttler minced no words after his team’s defeat in Pune, expressing his disapproval over the substitution.

“It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don’t agree with that,” Buttler had said after the match. “Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit has really improved his batting. It’s part of the game and we really should have gone on to win the match, but we disagree with the decision,” he added.

Gavaskar: ‘Dube was not concussed’

Now, Indian legend Gavaskar has blasted the Team’s management for picking Rana as Dube’s substitute, saying that such acts will only tarnish the team’s achievements.

“In the Pune game, Dube batted right till the end after having got hit on the helmet earlier, so clearly, he was not concussed. So, allowing a concussion substitute itself was not correct. Yes, there could have been a substitute in case he had strained a muscle while batting, but that would have been only for fielding and he could not have bowled,” wrote Gavaskar in his column for the Mid-Day.

“Even by the most generous stretching of the like-for-like term, there was nothing such between Dube and Rana. With tongue firmly in cheek, one can say that they are the same height and have the same standard in fielding. Otherwise, there’s nothing like-for-like as far as they are concerned. England has every reason to feel done in. This Indian team is superb and doesn’t need its wins to get tarnished by such acts,” he added.

England suffered another defeat on Sunday as they lost the fifth T20I by 150 runs and India won the series 4-1.