IND vs ENG: 'Could Be At Receiving End in Future' - Aakash Chopra Warns India After Debatable Concussion Sub

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Former cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra speaks out on the controversial 'like for like' in concussion substitute rule after Team India's debatable swap of Harshit Rana for Shivam Dube during the 4th T20I against England in Pune.

India beat England by 15 runs at the MCA Stadium on Friday (January 31), to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with pacer Rana playing a pivotal role, taking 3/33. Earlier, Dube (53 off 34 balls) took the hosts to 181/9.

All-rounder Dube was hit on the helmet off the penultimate delivery of the innings by Jamie Overton, leading to the concussion protocol being followed. Though he faced the last ball, India chose to replace him with Rana when the hosts came out to field.

After the match, debate over fair play continued as visiting skipper Jos Buttler expressed his displeasure with India's decision to use pacer Rana as the concussion substitute for a batting all-rounder.

"We don't agree with concussion substitute. It's not a like-for-like replacement," Buttler minced no words at the post-match interaction. Rana is a fast bowler, while Dube bowls medium pace. "I think either Shivam Dube put on 25mph with the ball or Harshit Rana has improved a lot with his batting," he added sarcastically.

Former players Kevin Pietersen, Michael Vaughan, Nick Knight and Alastair Cook also questioned the decision. Later, former India batter Aakash Chopra also weighed in on the matter, seeking claring on the rule before it may come back to bite Team India in the future in the knockouts of an ICC tournament.

"This 'concussion sub' rule with the 'like for like' clause has opened a Pandora's box. Substitution has to be allowed by the Match Referee. Team asking for it has to propose name/s. Yesterday's decision left some questions unanswered," Chopra wrote on X.

Taking examples of Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma, Chopra further added, "Say if Tilak got subbed-would it be okay to bring Sundar in the second innings? If Abhishek got subbed-Can India replace him with Jadeja/Axar as a bowler in the second innings?"

"Asking these questions now because India could be at the receiving end in the future...say in an ICC knockout game...and instead of crying foul then..it's best to make some noise now."