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Morne Morkel Defends Harshit Rana’s Concussion Substitute Role Amid Jos Buttler’s Criticism
By CricShots - Feb 1, 2025 3:54 pm
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England captain Jos Buttler was critical of India’s choice to substitute Shivam Dube with Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute in the fourth T20I in Pune. Dube, who had made a crucial half-century, was hit on the head by Jamie Overton’s bouncer in the last over of India’s innings. Subsequently, Rana, a specialist bowler, came in for Dube, who bowls medium pace and is an all-rounder with a batting capability.

Harshot Rana
Harshit Rana

“Not a like-for-like change of a bowler for an all-round batting player,” said Jos Buttler, with many cricketing experts agreeing that it was not a [ good swap. He complained, “It’s not a like-for-like replacement. We don’t agree with that. Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25 mph with the ball or Harshit’s really improved his batting.”

Though frustrated with the move, Buttler felt it was a part of the game; yet he wasn’t agreeing with the move since England lost the game by 15 runs. India bowling coach Morne Morkel defended the decision, stating that the final call was taken by match referee Javagal Srinath.

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According to Mone Morkel, once the injury and Dube’s symptoms were assessed, India suggested Harshit Rana as a suitable substitute. “It’s up to the match referee to make that decision. We took the name forward and, from there, it’s out of our hands.”. We got the green light to go with that,” Morkel explained, asserting that the team followed proper procedures and were given permission for the substitution.

Morne Morkel
Morne Morkel

Rana made history for India in the T20I as he became the first Indian to make his international debut as a concussion substitute. The decision to bring him in worked well as Rana played a pivotal role in India’s 15-run victory, claiming key wickets and helping India defend a challenging total of 181.

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Having said that, Morne Morkel supported the effort with which the side defended the total. “The way we defended tonight, I’m just very proud of this team,” Morkel told ESPNcricinfo. The two Paceman and Rana, along with Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy, bowled the game out on a surface that proved difficult to defend in the last couple of overs.