India coach and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir has come out in strong defense of young pacer Harshit Rana following criticism over his selection for India’s upcoming tour of Australia. The 23-year-old was named in both the ODI and T20I squads, prompting questions about favoritism from some former cricketers.
Criticism from Former Stars
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticized Rana’s inclusion, sarcastically calling him the “only permanent member” of the team. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also expressed curiosity about the selection process, saying he would have loved to attend the selection meeting to understand the reasons behind Rana’s repeated inclusion.
Add Zee News as a Preferred Source
Gambhir’s Strong Response
Gambhir, who has been closely associated with Rana through their Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) connection, dismissed claims of favoritism. “It is shameful and unfair to target a 23-year-old. His father is not an ex-chairman or connected to anyone. He is in the team because of his performance and will be judged based on his performance,” Gambhir said.
He added, “Criticize me if you want, I can handle it. But leaving a young player alone is important. Social media trolling is not right. Tomorrow, anyone’s child could play for the country. We all have a moral responsibility to protect Indian cricket and not target young players.”
Allegations of Favoritism
The controversy stems from Rana’s repeated selection across formats and his association with Gambhir at KKR. Critics suggest this connection might have influenced his continued inclusion, raising debates among cricket experts and fans about transparency in the selection process.
Support for Young Talent
Despite the criticism, Gambhir emphasized the importance of encouraging young players and giving them a fair chance. He urged critics to direct their attention at him rather than targeting up-and-coming cricketers.
Harshit Rana will now have the opportunity to prove himself on the international stage in Australia, and Gambhir remains confident that performance, not connections, will determine his future with the national team.
India vs Australia ODI, T20 Full Squads
India’s ODI squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.
India’s T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
