Ravichandran Ashwin fires 'IPL' and 'Impact player' dig, supports England in Rana-Dube concussion sub controversy

The use of Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube has triggered a debate on social media. The Indian team management and the match referee are under the scanner for replacing a batting allrounder with a pure fast bowler.

Many former cricketers have already shed light on this topic and it was time for the former India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin to share his viewpoint as well. Ashwin reminded his viewers of the IPL where the impact player rule is used and felt this match was similar.

The legendary offspinner was totally against the decision and called it "a case of pure cricketing miscalculation". He blamed it upon the match officials and asked for an investigation into this matter.

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Ravichandran Ashwin breaks silence on controversial concussion substitute

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about the controversial incident regarding the concussion substitute and called it a "replica of the IPL" where an extra player is used as an impact player.

"The game is done. India capture yet another series at home. T20I has been a real juggernaut of a win. What was this game? It was like a replica of the IPL. Supersub was there, and the game was played with an impact player," Ashwin said.

Ravichandran Ashwin further reminded his viewers of the earlier incident which involved the legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal replacing Ravindra Jadeja as a concussion substitute. He feels both Chahal and Jadeja are spinners but in this case, Dube is a batting allrounder as compared to Rana, who is a fast bowler.

"The entire discussion is about how Harshit Rana came in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube. Did we forget that it was an international match and play an IPL match? I can understand," Ashwin argued.

"It has happened in the past. Ravindra Jadeja got concussed in Canberra, and Yuzvendra Chahal came in as a substitute. I don't understand this. At least previously, Chahal came in for Jadeja, a spinner for a spinner," he added.

"Ramandeep Singh was there" - Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin called it a case of miscalculation on behalf of the match officials. He feels that Ramandeep Singh was a perfect replacement for Shivam Dube and he should have come in place of him as a concussion substitute.

"This is a case of pure cricketing miscalculation, either on the part of the umpires or the part of the match referee. Ramandeep Singh was there, like-for-like for Shivam Dube. But not him. Harshit Rana was chosen as the concussion substitute. I think people in charge should look into this," the 38-year-old added.

Ramandeep Singh has played two T20Is for India so far and scored 15 runs at an average of 15. Both of those matches came in India's four-match T20I series in South Africa in November 2024.

Harshit Rana turns the game for India

Harshit Rana had a match as he returned figures of 3-33 in four overs. It was the debut T20I for the young fast bowler and he played a key role in India's series win. He bowled at a good pace and made good use of his variations.

The 23-year-old quick is also in India's ODI squad for the series against England where he is the back-up for Jasprit Bumrah. Rana made his Test debut just last year in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where he played the first two Tests of the series.