Explained: Did Harshit Rana qualify as a like-for-like replacement for Shivam Dube during 4th India-England T20?

Eyebrows were raised during the fourth T20 between India and England in Pune on Friday after Harshit Rana was brought on as a concussion substitute. Rana, a pacer, came in as substitute for all-rounder Shivam Dube, who had sustained a blow to his head in the final over of India’s innings.

Dube did not return to field during England’s chase and as a result, Harshit Rana replaced him as a concussion substitute. However, it wasn’t a like-for-like replacement, given that Dube is an all-rounder and Rana a bowler.

Yet, Rana created impact, picking three wickets as England were all out for 166 in 19.4 overs. The decision to do so left several cricketing experts unhappy and they were of the opinion that Harshit was not a like-for-like replacement for Shivam Dube.

But, what do the rules say? Were India right in bringing a pacer as a concussion substitute for an all-rounder?

Why concussion substitute Harshit Rana was allowed to bowl

According to Rule 1.2.7.3, only like-for-like replacements can be named as concussion substitutes. “The ICC Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Concussion Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his team for the remainder of the match," says the rule. Rule 1.2.7.7, however, states that the decision of the ICC Match Referee is final, and in this case, Javagal Srinath, the match referee, approved Harshit as replacement.

“The decision of the ICC Match Referee in relation to any Concussion Replacement Request shall be final and neither team shall have any right of appeal,” says the rule.

Having said that, since Dube had already done his bit in terms of batting, and given that the role of the player is for the remainder of the game, all that was needed from Harshit was his bowling, which in this case makes him a like-for-like replacement. While Dube is a right-arm medium pacer, Harshit bowls right-arm fast.

A similar incident happened in 2020, when spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was named as a concussion substitute for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja during a T20I against Australia. Chahal picked three wickets in that match and was named Player of the Match.

In 2019, former ICC CEO Geoff Allardice had spoken on the use of like-for-like replacements as Marbus Labuschagne replaced Steve Smith during the Lord’s Test of the Ashes series. “Every circumstance is going to be different depending on when the player is requested to be replaced,” he had told reporters. “It’s very much around what is the likely role of the injured player for rest of the match and who is most like-for-like with the role that player will play,” he had added.