Home
Young pacer Harshit Rana got his maiden T20I call-up last year for the Bangladesh series on the back of performances in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 triumph. But, he had to wait for several months to make his T20I debut. Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Rana made his only T20I appearance against England, that too as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube which led to controversy. After Dube scored a half-century, Rana walking in as concussion substitute. As Rana claimed 3 wickets from four overs and India won by 15 runs, England captain Jos Buttler was fuming at the like-for-like replacement approved by match referee Javagal Srinath. Months later, Rana recalled how head coach Gautam Gambhir broke the news to him.
“After the first innings, we reserve bowlers did some bowling against a single stump, and we went upstairs to have our dinner. As I came down after dinner, Gautam bhai told me, ‘Be ready, you can [might] go in.’ Initially, I couldn't understand how that was possible. Then I was told [Shivam] Dube had been hit in the head and he was feeling dizzy and I would be the concussion substitute,” Rana told ESPNCricinfo.
The 23-year-old said that he did not do any warm-up before making his T20I debut. He also recalled crossing the 150 kmph mark in the fiery spell.
“So I walked in without doing any warm-up. I was standing at third and immediately I had a catch off [Ravi] Bishnoi's bowling come towards me. I took it cleanly, thankfully. But what I remember is that it was that day I logged my fastest ball in T20 - 151 kph. I had walked in without any warm-up, but I loosened up as it started sinking in that I was making my T20I debut,” he said.
Rana’s hilarious post-match chat with Dube
Rana also recalled his conversation with a concussed Dube after the match. He asked the batting all-rounder to increase his pace.
"Bhaiya, aap ko thodi pace badhani padegi. Ab mein aap ka like-for-like hoon and mujhe batting badhani padegi apni, [Since I am a like-for-like sub for you, I will need to improve my batting]” he said.
Dube doesn’t increase pace but gets 2 wickets
Interestingly, Rana was rested and Dube bowled in the fifth and final T20I of the series. Chasing 248 after Abhishek Sharma's menacing 54-ball 135, England were in disarray. Dube bowled after powerplay overs and got the wickets of opener Phil Salt and young all-rounder Jacob Bethell in consecutive overs. From two overs, he conceded just 11 runs. England were bowled out for 97 as they lost by a huge margin of 150 runs. Later, while talking to the broadcasters, Gambhir laughed as they talked about the controversial like-for-like concussion replacement.
ADVERTISEMENT
