India`s win in the Pune T20I, giving it a series win, was marred by the controversy regarding the concussion sub rule. Shivam Dube, who had batted quite superbly despite obvious discomfiture against the bouncer, was substituted by Harshit Rana. This happened because Dube during his innings had got struck on the helmet with a short ball and so was ‘advised’ not to take the field when it came to India’s turn to try and defend the score. The concussion substitute, which allows teams to bring on a like-for-like replacement on the field, is one of the worst rules in the game. It rewards ineptitude. If a batter can’t play a bouncer and gets hit on the helmet and goes off the field and the team doctor thinks he needs to rest because of concussion, then someone else who is not in the XI who does pretty much what the concussed guy does can replace him. Firstly, if you can’t play the bouncer then don’t play at the highest level. Play weekend club cricket and smash the bowlers all round the park to your heart’s content. Secondly, if someone breaks a finger or a wrist and obviously cannot take any further part in the game is not allowed a like-for-like replacement, then why allow one for some guy who gets hit on the helmet.

In the Pune game, Dube batted right till the end after having got hit on the helmet earlier, so clearly, he was not concussed. So, allowing a concussion substitute itself was not correct. Yes, there could have been a substitute in case he had strained a muscle while batting, but that would have been only for fielding and he could not have bowled. Even by the most generous stretching of the like-for-like term, there was nothing such between Dube and Rana. With tongue firmly in cheek, one can say that they are the same height and have the same standard in fielding. Otherwise, there’s nothing like-for-like as far as they are concerned. England have every reason to feel done in. This Indian team are a superb team and doesn’t need its wins to get tarnished by such acts.