
Sunil Gavaskar has claimed that Shivam Dube was “not concussed” during the fourth T20I against England in Pune.
The Laws around the concussion sub have come under scanner after Rana was brought in during the second innings after Dube had been hit on the head while batting. Dube missed a pull and was struck on his helmet on the penultimate ball of the innings, before falling the next delivery after making 53 in 34.
However, he did not take the field in the next half as Rana was cleared as a concussion substitute, leading to plenty of reactions. According to the ICC Laws, only a “like-for-like” player can be brought on in these circumstances.
Dube, largely a batting all-rounder, last bowled in a T20I during the Zimbabwe series. He has sent down 47.3 overs in 35 matches, or roughly 1.3 overs per game. He has also bowled his full quota of four overs just twice in a T20I game. Rana, on the other hand, is a specialist seamer, who made his Test debut in the Australia series. He made his T20I debut in Pune after being called in as a replacement, clocking 151kph and picking three wickets, which proved to be the game-changer.
Dube, however, returned in the fifth T20I in Mumbai, less than two days after being concussed. The India team confirmed to Wisden.com that he was “eligible” for selection but did not respond on the extent of his injury.