'Harshit was having dinner when...,' says Morkel; Pacer reacts to ongoing controversy

India pacer Harshit Rana made his T20I debut in highly unusual circumstances during the 4th T20I against England in Pune, stepping in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube. Despite the last-minute call-up, Rana rose to the occasion, taking 3 wickets for 33 runs and playing a pivotal role in India’s 15-run victory, which secured the series with a match to spare.

Speaking in a post-match interview, Rana shared that he only learned of his substitution role after Dube returned from the field. “It is still a dream debut for me. When (Shivam) Dube came back, after two overs, I was informed I will be the concussion substitute,” said the young pacer, who had impressed in the IPL 2024 season for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Rana acknowledged the challenges but was confident in his preparation. “I have been preparing for a while, not just for this series. I have been waiting for this moment to prove myself. When I got the chance, I didn’t think of the circumstances and just thought about delivering. I’ve had experience bowling at the death for KKR, and I relied on that,” he explained. 

India had posted a competitive total of 181, thanks to fifties from Dube and Hardik Pandya, who had rescued India from a precarious 12/3. Despite England’s solid start with 62 in the powerplay, India’s bowlers, particularly Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, and Varun Chakravarthy, pegged them back. Rana’s outstanding debut performance helped defend the target as England fell short by 15 runs.

However, the legality of the concussion substitute sparked controversy. England captain Jos Buttler voiced his displeasure, calling the replacement unfair, but India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel defended the decision. Morkel explained that Dube had suffered a mild headache after being struck on the head by Jamie Overton and that the Indian team had followed the proper procedures by presenting Rana’s name to the match referee, Javagal Srinath, for approval.

“Shivam (Dube) took the knock and, after the innings break, came off with mild headache symptoms. We then put forward the name of a suitable replacement to the match referee. From there, it’s up to the match referee to make the final decision,” Morkel said, confirming that the substitution had been officially approved.

Morkel praised Rana for his swift preparation, noting, “Harshit was having dinner when he was called up. He had to get himself ready as quickly as possible and get onto the field. I thought he did an excellent job.” He added that the decision was ultimately out of the team’s hands once it was submitted to the match referee.

As for Buttler’s claim that the replacement was not “like-for-like,” Morkel was diplomatic, saying, “It goes to the powers above me – the match referee. We can only present the name, and from there, it’s out of our hands.”

Morkel also expressed pride in the young Indian bowling unit’s performance, particularly in defending the total. “Even when we were under pressure, the young group showed great character. I’m just very proud of the way they defended tonight, especially on a good wicket with a wet outfield,” Morkel said.

Rana’s debut, despite the controversy, was a defining moment in his career and an important victory for India, demonstrating their resilience under pressure and the depth of their bowling talent. (With inputs from PTI)