Sun Feb 02 08:52:02 UTC 2025: ## Ashwin Questions India’s Concussion Substitute Decision in England T20 Series

**Pune, India** – Former Indian cricketer R Ashwin has criticized the team’s decision to replace injured batsman Shivam Dube with bowler Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute during the fourth T20I against England. Dube, who scored 53 runs before suffering a blow to the helmet, was replaced by Rana, a move Ashwin described as a “miscalculation” violating the spirit of like-for-like substitutions.

The incident occurred in the final over of India’s innings. While Rana ultimately took 3 for 33 on debut and helped secure a 15-run victory and a 3-1 series win for India, Ashwin pointed out that the rules stipulate a like-for-like replacement. He argued that batsman Ramandeep Singh, already on the team bench, would have been the appropriate substitute for Dube, not Rana.

“The entire controversy is about how Harshit Rana came in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube,” Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel. “Did we forget that it was an international match, not an IPL? This was like a replica of the IPL, with a ‘supersub’ and an ‘impact player’,” he added, highlighting the perceived deviation from standard international rules.

Ashwin questioned whether the umpires or match referee overlooked the regulations, suggesting that the decision could have negative consequences for India in future matches. He emphasized the need for a review of the incident to prevent similar occurrences. The incident sparked debate about the interpretation and application of concussion substitute rules in international cricket.

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