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Harshit Rana, the young fast bowler, made his T20I debut for India under unusual circumstances during the fourth T20I against England in Pune. He replaced Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute after the all-rounder suffered a blow to the head from a bouncer bowled by Jamie Overton. With this, Rana became only the seventh player in cricket history to make an international debut as a concussion substitute.
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How the Incident Unfolded
India batted first in the fourth T20I of the five-match series. The start was disastrous as Saqib Mahmood rattled the top order, taking three wickets in a single over without conceding a run. However, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube steadied the innings with quickfire fifties, helping India post a competitive total of 181.
Dube’s innings ended in unfortunate fashion when he was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Overton before being run out on the final delivery. He did not take the field in the second innings, and India introduced Harshit Rana as his replacement.
Rare Feat in International Cricket
Making a debut as a concussion substitute is a rare occurrence in cricket. Rana joined an elite list of players who have done so across formats:
| Player | Format | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Mudzinganyama | Test | 2020 |
| Neil Rock | ODI | 2022 |
| Khaya Zondo | Test | 2022 |
| Matt Parkinson | Test | 2022 |
| Kamran Ghulam | ODI | 2023 |
| Bahir Shah | Test | 2023 |
| Harshit Rana | T20I | 2025 |
Impressive Debut Performance
Rana made an immediate impact by dismissing Liam Livingstone with just his second delivery. He went on to claim the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Jamie Overton, playing a key role in England’s collapse.
This was not Rana’s first outing in international cricket. He previously made his Test debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where he picked up four wickets in two matches.
His fiery spell against England has already given fans a glimpse of his potential, making him a player to watch in India’s fast-bowling ranks.
