India pacer Harshit Rana 's T20I debut came in unusual circumstances, as he stepped in as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube during the 4th T20I against England in Pune. However, despite the late entrance,

India bowling coach Morne Morkel felt the controversial concussion substitution of Harshit Rana in place of Shivam Dube during the fourth T20I in Pune was ultimately the call of the match referee setting aside all theories.

Harshit Rana was added to the India playing XI for the fourth T20 against England as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube. However, this decision was controversial, with some claiming that Harshit was not a like-for-like replacement.

Shivam Dube, who scored 53, was hit on the helmet in the penultimate ball of the Indian innings by a Jamie Overton delivery.

The move has sparked controversy, drawing criticism from former England captains Sir Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan. Cook told TNT Sports that replacing a batting all-rounder like Dube with Rana, a fast bowler, made no sense to him. He called out the move stating, "It seems absolute madness that you are allowed to do it".

Even though Ramandeep Singh, a batting all-rounder like Dube, was on the bench, Harshit Rana was the name India proposed to Javagal Srinath, the match referee.

Kevin Pietersen fumed in the commentary box as pacer Harshit Rana replaced Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute in the 4th T20I match of the series. Rana bowled in the second half of the innings and picked up a wicket in his very first over.