New Delhi:
In a dramatic turn of events, India clinched the T20I series against England with a 15-run victory in the fourth match, despite a tumultuous start and a contentious concussion substitution. The match, played on Friday, saw India overcome early setbacks to secure a decisive win, thanks in large part to the unexpected yet stellar debut of Harshit Rana.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav praised his team’s resilience and the crucial contributions of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, who stabilized the innings after India found themselves reeling at 12/3 in the second over. “Three wickets in one over was too much, but the way Hardik and Dube showed their experience was great,” Yadav said, highlighting the duo’s pivotal role in guiding India to a competitive total of 181/9.
The match took a significant turn when Shivam Dube, who had scored a crucial 50, was struck on the helmet in the final over of India’s innings. This led to his substitution by Harshit Rana, a move that sparked controversy. Rana, a fast bowler, made his T20I debut under these unusual circumstances and delivered a remarkable three-wicket haul, helping India restrict England to 166 runs.
Rana’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, given the pressure and the unexpected nature of his debut. “It is still a dream debut for me,” Rana reflected. “I have been preparing for this moment for a while, not just for this series. When I got the chance, I did not think of the circumstances and just thought about delivering.” His experience of bowling at the death in the IPL proved invaluable as he took key wickets, including those of Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone.
England skipper Jos Buttler expressed disappointment over his team’s failure to capitalize on their strong start. Despite taking early wickets and being in a commanding position, England’s batting lineup faltered, with key lapses such as a dropped catch of Dube early in the innings proving costly. “We started brilliantly, taking wickets in the powerplay and were in a great position at the end of the batting powerplay. We should have gone on to win the game,” Buttler lamented.
The controversy surrounding Rana’s substitution as a concussion replacement for Dube has raised questions about the application of ICC rules. While the rules allow for like-for-like replacements, the substitution of a batter with a bowler has sparked debate among cricket pundits and players, including former England captain Michael Vaughan, who criticized the move as exploiting the rules.
