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Harshit Rana has been on the receiving end of widespread criticism after coming on as a concussion substitution for Shivam Dube.
Shivam Dube (left) and Harshit Rana (BCCI Photo)
Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has made a bold claim about India’s recent T20I series triumph. The Men in Blue stomped England 4-1 on home turf to win the five-match bilateral tour. Days after India’s massive win, Pietersen suggested that the fate of the contest could have been completely different if the concussion sub-controversy hadn’t taken place in the fourth T20I. “It was a disappointing series from England’s perspective. I think that in the fourth T20I, if the concussion substitution had been done correctly, maybe England would have got up there,” Pietersen told media, as per multiple outlets.
The concussion substitution controversy occurred during India’s fourth meeting with England in Pune. The match saw Shivam Dube getting hit on the helmet in the final over of India’s innings. Harshit Rana was deemed as a ‘like for like’ replacement for the young all-rounder. The fast-bowling specialist ended up taking three wickets in the second half to ensure India’s victory, extending the home side’s series lead to 3-1. Speaking about the incident, Kevin Pietersen highlighted that the five-match tie could have been levelled if England won at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on January 31. “It would have been 2-2 coming to the Wankhede (Stadium for final T20I). It would have been way more on the game. But it didn’t happen,” he said.
Harshit Rana was on the receiving end of widespread criticism following the concussion substitution in Pune. Kevin Pietersen, however, came to the fast bowler’s rescue claiming that Rana wasn’t the one to be blamed. “It’s not his fault that he was the one who ended up being the concussion substitute,” he told StarSports. “Harshit’s performance was outstanding. He executed his skills brilliantly and assessed the conditions well. He read the batters effectively, adjusted his line when needed, and bowled his heart out to secure the win,” Pietersen concluded. The win in the Pune game India an unassailable lead before they hammered England by 150 runs in the final T20I.
With the T20Is settled, India and England will lock horns once again in the ODI format. The two cricketing powerhouses will compete in three matches in Nagpur, Cuttack and Ahmedabad. The series will end seven days before the Champions Trophy, serving as the perfect warm-up for the premier ICC tournament. The first ODI between India and England will take place at the VCA Stadium on Thursday, February 6.
