Why Was Harshit Rana Allowed to Bowl and Dismiss Liam Livingstone Despite Not Being in India’s XI? Concussion Rule Explained

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In the ongoing fourth T20I between India and England at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, Harshit Rana was not part of India’s playing XI. However, the young pacer found himself in action when he was brought in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube.

This decision raised questions about how it works and why Harshit Rana was allowed to bowl despite not being originally named in the playing XI. Here’s the explanation of the concussion rule and how it played out in this match.

What Happened to Shivam Dube?

Shivam Dube, who was in the middle of a strong performance, scoring 53 runs off 34 balls, was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from England’s pacer Jamie Overton. The ball came in high, and Dube failed to connect with the shot. While the batter didn’t appear to be in any immediate discomfort, the physio was called on the field, as per the mandatory rules. Dube continued to play and faced the final ball of the over without any apparent issues.

However, shortly after the incident, Dube did not return to the field. Instead, Ramandeep Singh, an all-rounder, was sent out as a substitute fielder. A few overs later, Harshit Rana was spotted on the field, replacing Ramandeep. The reason for this substitution was that Dube had suffered a concussion and was unable to continue, allowing Rana to take his place on the field.

Not just this, Harshit Rana even went on to dismiss Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell, the two main men of England.

The Concussion Substitute Rule Explained

The concussion substitute rule was introduced to safeguard the health and safety of players. It allows a player to be replaced during a match if they suffer a concussion, a serious injury that could impair their ability to play effectively and safely. The key aspects of the rule are as follows:

1. The Replacement Player: The player substituted in must be a like-for-like replacement in terms of the role they would play. In Dube’s case, since he is a batter, the rule permits a batter to be replaced by another batter if the team is chasing. Similarly, a bowler can replace another bowler if the team is defending.
2. The Process: Once the concussion is confirmed by the medical team, the substitute is approved by the match officials. The player who is replaced must not take further part in the match.

India’s Total and Shivam Dube’s Contribution

Dube’s earlier knock played a crucial role in propelling India to a competitive total of 181/9 in their allotted 20 overs. He was aggressive from the outset, hitting 7 fours and 2 sixes. He also formed an important partnership with Hardik Pandya (53 off 30 balls), helping the team post a challenging target for England.

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