Picture Credit: X
Although the five-match T20I series against England might be over, the concussion substitute controversy from the fourth T20I in Pune continues to rage with several former cricketers as well as match officials going out loud to share their opinions. However, majority of them agreed that Harshit Rana wasn’t a like-for-like replacement for Shivam Dube, after the conclusion of the series, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen took some time off to question Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir on the same.
Following the fifth T20I in Mumbai, Pietersen asked Gambhir of his views on the controversy which has mounted a new debate. Although, Gambhir kept silent after the fourth T20I, but on Sunday, February 2, he dropped a cheeky response, shutting down Pietersen, who was critical of the match referee’s decision.
He would have bowled four overs for sure: Gautam Gambhir drops cheeky response; leaves everyone in splits
As the former England cricketer brought back the topic in the fifth T20I in Mumbai, Gautam Gambhir trolled him and the entire England team by saying that Dube would have bowled four overs n the final match of the series. When asked of his views during the post-match chat on Star Sports, Gambhir responded, “He would have bowled four overs for sure today”, leaving everyone in splits.
Watch video of Gautam Gambhir respond on Harshit Rana concussion substitute controversy:
However, Gambhir’s remarks came after Dube was brilliant with the ball in the fifth T20I, picking two wickets in as many overs while conceding only 11 runs. But earlier after the fourth T20I in Pune, Kevin Pietersen was very critical of the move. "Concussion sub is quite the topic everywhere here at the moment and my view is...it was NEVER a like-for-like replacement and the match referee should just hold his hand up and say he got that one wrong. End of event for good and we move on to another great clash this evening," Pietersen had written on X.
