India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir lashed out at some of the former cricketers who had criticized the inclusion of Harshit Rana for the upcoming tour to Australia. Ever since the squad for the IND vs AUS series was announced, the Delhi pacer has been targeted on social media, with some section even accusing the head coach of favouring the bowler. Gambhir categorically stated that Rana had made it to the team on meri basis and that there was no favouritism in play whatsoever.
Gambhir slams Harshit Rana’s critics
Speaking at a press conference after the IND vs WI 2nd Test, Gambhir came down hard on Harshit’s critics, noting that trolling a 23-year-old wasn’t right. The head coach claimed that Rana’s father wasn’t an ex-chairman, ex-cricketer or a NRI, adding that it was unfair to target the kid. Taking a dig at players like Ashwin and Srikkanth who had ridiculed Harshit’s selection for the IND vs AUS series, Gambhir said that statements shouldn’t be made for solely gaining views on their respective YouTube channels.
“Every one of has us moral responsibility to make sure Indian cricket does well. Don’t say anything to run your YouTube channel. You criticize me and I can stand through it 100%. But, a 23-year-old boy is a 23-year-old boy. So, that is something which is not acceptable,” Gambhir said.
Rana made his ODI debut earlier this year against England. He was then a part of the Champions Trophy squad. In 5 ODIs that he has featured in so far, he has managed to take 10 wickets. Rana also made his T20I debut in this very year.
But his record so far has hardly justified the repeated call-ups. In the Asia Cup last month, Rana managed only two wickets in two matches, conceding 79 runs. In the Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka, his wayward spell of 54 runs for a single wicket
India squads for Australia tour
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
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