India faced a sudden change in their playing XI during the second innings of the fourth T20I against England in Pune. Shivam Dube, who batted very well, was unable to take the field.

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Instead, Harshit Rana was brought in as a concussion substitute. This raised questions among fans about the reason behind the replacement and how concussion substitutes work in cricket.

Here’s what happened and how the rule applies in such cases.

Verdict: What is the ICC rule for concussion substitutes? How does a match referee approve players as ‘like for like replacements’?

Why did Harshit Rana replace Shivam Dube in the IND vs ENG 4th T20I?

Shivam Dube suffered a concussion after being hit on the helmet by a short ball from England pacer Jamie Overton. The incident occurred in the final over of India’s innings when Overton bowled a sharp bouncer that surprised Dube.

Though he completed his innings and faced the last ball, he did not take the field during England’s chase. As per the rules, the team physio checked on Dube after the blow.

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While he showed no immediate discomfort, a concussion assessment later confirmed that he was unfit to continue. Initially, Ramandeep Singh was sent as a substitute fielder, but after a few overs, Harshit Rana officially replaced Dube as a concussion substitute.

Harshit, playing his first T20I, made an immediate impact by dismissing Liam Livingstone in his opening over.

How do concussion substitutions work in cricket?

The International Cricket Council allows teams to use a concussion substitute when a player suffers a head injury and is ruled out. The substitute must be a like-for-like replacement, meaning a batter can only be replaced by another batter, and a bowler by another bowler.

The match referee must approve the change before the substitute can take part in the game. Teams have used this rule across formats, ensuring they do not suffer a disadvantage if a major player is injured.

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The concussion substitution rule continues to be a vital safety measure in cricket, protecting players while maintaining balance in the game.

How did Shivam Dube perform before retiring?

Before his injury, Shivam Dube played a crucial role for India, scoring 53 runs off 34 balls. He struck seven fours and two sixes, attacking England’s bowlers, especially Adil Rashid.

His partnership with Hardik Pandya, who also scored 53 off 30 balls, helped India post a total of 181/9 in 20 overs.