Until the India vs Australia series, Harshit Rana was one of the favourites for trollers. They targeted him endlessly. One failure meant abuses. And it wasn’t just faceless people online. Harshit was labelled as a ‘yes-man’ of India head coach Gautam Gambhir by none other than former chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth.
Harshit hadn’t done anything wrong. At just 23, the talented pacer was bound to fail more often than not. But people weren’t willing to let it slide. Just because Harshit and Gambhir were at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the same time, they linked the pacer’s selection to it.
However, after his success with the ball and bat on the white-ball Australia tour, these critics went silent. Of course, in reality, they have just gone back to their hole. They’ll return the moment Harshit fails and start questioning his selection.
Harshit Rana’s selection defended
Amid all of this, former KKR wicketkeeper Manvinder Bisla has defended the pacer and Gambhir. Bisla, who’s best remembered for winning the ‘man of the match’ in the 2012 Indian Premier League (IPL) final, mocked the critics by saying that Harshit wasn’t selected because he’s related to Gambhir, but purely on merit.
“The ones opposing Harshit Rana must be non-KKR fans. I am saying this honestly. Everyone relates it this way that Gautam has a KKR background; that’s why he is supporting Harshit. Koi mama chacha ka rishta to hai nahi (It’s not like Gambhir is his uncle). Everyone thinks there might be a KKR angle,” Bisla said on the India Cricket Canteen podcast.
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