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'NEVER A Like Replacement' Pietersen Asks Match Referee To Settle Concussion Debate

Akshita Patel

Kevin Pietersen shares opinion on concussion substitute debate [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @RichKettle07/X.com]Kevin Pietersen shares opinion on concussion substitute debate [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @RichKettle07/X.com]

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Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has blamed the match referee for allowing Harshit Rana as concussion replacement for Shivam Dube in the fourth T20I against England. Pietersen opined that Javagal Srinath, the match referee must accept his mistake so that the fans can move on from the incident. 

The 4th T20I between India and England was filled with controversy as Harshit Rana came in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube. The latter got hit on the head by Jamie Overton and didn’t take the field in the second inning.

As per concussion protocol, Rana replaced him in the playing XI, making his debut in the T20I format. He picked 3 wickets and led India to a stunning victory by 15 runs margin.

However, English fans weren’t happy as they believed Harshit, a primary fast bowler, was not like for like replacement for Dube, who is a batting all-rounder.

Kevin Pietersen settles concussion replacement debate

Meanwhile, before the fifth T20I, Kevin Pietersen has flared up a debate on the contentious concussion substitute. He slammed match referee Javagal Srinath for allowing Harshit Rana as a "like-for-like" replacement for Shivam Dube, which many experts claim was a questionable call.

He believed the match referee had to accept the mistake and people should forget this incident.

The criticism arises from a loophole in the concussion substitute clause of the ICC, where the match referee may exercise his discretion in determining the role a player would have most probably played had they not been concussed. India’s justification for the swap leaned on this clause, as Dube might have bowled in the second innings. 

Jos Buttler deems Rana’s concussion substitution ‘unfair’

England skipper Jos Buttler did not hold back his criticism over Harshit Rana replacing Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute, questioning the validity of the decision and pointing out the lack of consultation with his team. "Either Shivam Dube has put on 25mph with the ball, or Harshit has really improved his batting," Buttler remarked sarcastically.