Courtesy: BCCI/Google

Courtesy: BCCI/Google

The five-match T20 International (T20I) series between India and England concluded with the former clinching a 150-run win against the visitors at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, and registering a convincing 4-1 series victory. However, the concussion sub controversy, which happened in the fourth T20I, has refused to die. In the recent development, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar along with a prominent match referee and former England player Chris Broad also jumped into the debate. During the fourth T20I played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune, Harshit Rana replaced Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute, following the former's injury sustained while batting in the first innings.

The scene became controversial after Rana’s match-winning spell (3-33 in four overs). England captain Jos Buttler showed ire at the change, after the match and the incident became the talking point in the cricketing circle. Discussing the incident in his column Telegraph, Gavaskar also berated the Indian team management which included coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav as he felt Dube was not concussed.

Dube batted right till the end after having got hit; he was not concussed: Gavaskar

The 75-year-old penned, "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."

He added, "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 has every reason to feel done in. This Indian team is a superb team and doesn't need its wins to get tarnished by such acts."

Chris Broad accuses ICC of bias and corruption

Chris Broad, who has been one of the most prominent ICC match referees, displayed his exasperation against cricket’s apex body. The 67-year-old put up a social media post and accused ICC of corruption and bias. 

Taking to X, the former English opener posted "Independent match officials were brought in to stop situations like this! Why are the ICC returning to the 'bad old days' of bias and corruption?."

He also came heavily on former India pacer Javagal Srinath, who was the match referee in the fourth T20I played in Pune. Responding to a query on the topic, he also wrote, “How can an Indian Match Referee get away with allowing this Indian replacement? Match officials should be independent to omit bias! (sic).”