Jos Buttler criticised India’s use of pace bowler Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute in their series-clinching win over England in the fourth T20 international in Pune, calling the change “not a like-for-like replacement”.

Batting all-rounder Shivam Dube – who has bowled a total of only three overs across the last three editions of the IPL – struck 53 off 34 balls for India before going off the field with a concussion sustained when batting. In his place, pace bowler Harshit took three wickets on his T20I debut to fire India to a 15-run victory.

The International Cricket Council’s concussion replacement guidance states that a concussion substitute is to be approved if it is a “a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage their team”.

England captain Buttler addressed the controversy in his post-match press conference, saying: “We disagree with the decision.

“It’s not a like-for-like replacement. Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball, or Harshit has really improved his batting.

“They had a like-for-like replacement in Ramandeep Singh, so we are quite confused as to how Harshit Rana was able to come into the game. We’ll ask Javagal [Srinath, the match referee] some questions.

“We had no consultation. As I came out to bat, I asked the umpire why Harshit was on the field and he said he’s the concussion sub which I was quite confused by.

“Maybe at the toss next game, I’ll say we’re going to play 12 as well. I still think we should have gone on to win the match but we disagree with the decision.”

Despite England’s frustration at the officiating in Pune, there was a clear acceptance from Buttler that his side should have won the game regardless.

England were in extremely strong positions at various stages in the match.

Saqib Mahmood’s triple-wicket maiden in the second over of India’s innings left the hosts 12-3. They then fell to 79-5 in the 11th, before Dube and Hardik Pandya both struck fifites in an 87-run partnership to help set England a testing 182 for victory.

Even so, the tourists reached 50 without loss inside five overs after a brilliant start, and then once more appeared on course for victory when Harry Brook brought up a 25-ball half century in the 15th, before England ultimately collapsed to 166 all out and defeat.

Butler said: “We started brilliantly, taking lots of wickets in the powerplay, and also at the end of the batting powerplay we were in a great position. We should have gone on to win the game.

“It’s disappointing. We did some really good things in the game.

“We have to double down on the way we want to play. I’ve been really impressed with how we’ve committed to that. We can still commit more and when we do that, we’ll get more out of ourselves.”

Cook: Sub incident seems like madness

“It had such a big impact on the game,” Cook told TNT Sports. “Replacing a big-hitting batting all-rounder, who has bowled one over in the [2024] IPL, with a bowler who can’t bat and bowls heavy seam, makes no sense to me whatsoever.

“England still really should have won the game. They probably would have rather faced a pace bowler than a spinner, to be honest, but I still don’t understand it.

“India have Washington Sundar on the bench, who Dube replaced. but instead they bring in a heavy bowler, who bowls 140-odd [kmph].

“It seems madness that you can do it.”

Cook was more specific with his criticism of England’s performance, focusing on the shot selection of the tourists and questioning whether their egos are too big to play the situation.

“We can rant and rave all we want about it [the concussion sub] – it was the wrong call – but England still should have won the game,” the former England skipper said on TNT Sports.

“I thought England were dumb with some of their shots. It’s a harsh thing to say, because T20 cricket is a balancing act, but sometimes the modern thinking isn’t right – I’m sorry.

“Ben Duckett played beautifully today. England were 62-0 off 5.5 overs of the powerplay. Just see it off, knock a single and regroup again.

“I don’t know if its ego or whatever that makes them think, ‘I’ve got to carry on playing’.

“And I have to have a go at Harry Brook as well. Again, he hit a fine fifty, but I don’t understand it. It’s the last over of Varun, the player of the series so far and had he seen it off, England would have needed just under 10 an over with five to go and their best bowler done.”

England in India – results and fixtures

All times UK and Ireland

• First T20: Wednesday January 22 – Eden Gardens, Kolkata – India won by seven wickets
• Second T20: Saturday January 25 – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai – India won by two wickets
• Third T20: Tuesday January 28 – Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot – England won by 26 runs
• Fourth T20: Friday January 31 – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune – India won by 15 runs
• Fifth T20: Sunday February 2 (1.30pm) – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• First ODI: Thursday February 6 (8am) – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
• Second ODI: Sunday February 9 (8am) – Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
• Third ODI: Wednesday February 12 (8am) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

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