 "Gautam Gambhir and Kevin Pietersen after the fifth T20I between India and England. Image: StarSports")
In a recent interaction, Kevin Pietersen couldn’t contain his laughter as he heard Gautam Gambhir’s lighthearted response to the controversy surrounding the use of a concussion substitute in the fourth T20I between India and England. The Indian team found itself in the spotlight after fielding Harshit Rana as a replacement for injured all-rounder Shivam Dube, sparking debate over the decision .
Gambhir’s hilarious response to concussion sub drama
The incident occurred during the fourth T20I match in Pune on Friday, where the concussion substitution raised some eyebrows. Kevin Pietersen, who was visibly frustrated with the decision, asked India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir about the rationale behind Shivam Dube’s replacement after the end of the series on Sunday. Gambhir, always known for his wit, responded with a humorous remark, saying, “He would have bowled four overs for sure today.” His response was met with hearty laughter, as he clearly didn’t take the issue too seriously.
Gambhir’s humor seemed to defuse the tension surrounding the situation, and it was clear that the former cricketer wasn’t fazed by Pietersen’s indirect criticism.
Shivam Dube, in fact, was in excellent form with the ball in the fifth T20I in Mumbai, taking two wickets to his name. His figures of 2-0-11-2 included key dismissals of Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell, showcasing his impact on the game.
The controversy arose when ICC match referee Javagal Srinath approved Harshit Rana as a replacement for Shivam Dube , despite clear differences in their playing styles. While both are all-rounders, Dube is primarily a batter who can bowl, whereas Rana’s main strength lies in his bowling, with batting being a secondary skill.
Gambhir also addressed various rumours about the Indian cricket team, including the speculated rift in the dressing room during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While he didn’t completely deny the rumours, he pointed out that the atmosphere in the dressing room tends to settle down once the team starts winning.
“They have played a lot of cricket with each other. More importantly, a month back, there were a couple of other rumours flying around (laughs). That’s what Indian cricket is all about. There will be so many things said about the dressing room when things are not going okay. But once results start going in your favour, things start falling in place,” Gambhir said.