“I think it’s not a like-for-like replacement. We don’t agree with that. I think either Shivam has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit’s really improved his batting"
Skipper Jos Buttler after England’s defeat on Friday. Pic/Getty Images
England captain Jos Buttler has reacted sharply to India’s 12th man and concussion replacement Harshit Rana, who he felt was not a like-for-like replacement for Shivam Dube in Friday’s fourth T20I here.
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Dube (53) was struck on the helmet by Jamie Overton in the penultimate delivery of the India innings. “I think it’s not a like-for-like replacement. We don’t agree with that. I think either Shivam has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit’s really improved his batting.
“I still think we should have gone on to win the match. I don’t think the England team lost because of him, but he helped. As I came out to bat, I was thinking ‘who’s Harshit on for?’ And they said he’s the concussion replacement, which I obviously disagreed with. It’s not a like-for-like replacement. They said that the match referee had made the decision. But yeah, we’ll ask Javagal [Srinath, match referee] some questions just to get some clarity around it,” said Buttler.
