JuicyTalk
Former India captain and ex-chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth has lashed out at the national selection committee for repeatedly including Harshit Rana in India’s squads across formats despite his inconsistent performances. The Delhi pacer’s surprise inclusion in both the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup 2025 squads, followed by his name appearing again for the upcoming Australia tour, has sparked widespread debate.
Harshit Rana’s continuous inclusion in India’s ODI, T20I and Test squads raises eyebrows
India’s recent team selections have seen significant rotation, yet Rana remains a constant fixture. Out of all the players named for the upcoming ODI and T20I series in Australia, only seven have been retained – with Rana being one of them. Despite not cementing his place in any format, the pacer’s continued presence has puzzled fans and former cricketers alike.
Srikkanth voiced his frustration on his YouTube channel, criticizing what he termed as “confusing and inconsistent” selection tactics. “By making such selections constantly, they’re confusing the players themselves. Even we aren’t sure what the selection will be. Suddenly Yashasvi Jaiswal is there, then he’s gone. The only permanent member seems to be Harshit Rana. Nobody knows why,” he said.
“Be a Yes-Man to Gambhir”: Srikkanth’s blunt remark
Srikkanth went a step further, hinting that Rana’s continued selection could be due to his rapport with Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir. “You don’t pick some players even if they perform, and take others even when they don’t. Best is to be like Harshit Rana – be a constant yes-man to Gambhir if you want to be selected,” he quipped.
He further warned that such selections could harm India’s long-term planning: “You should start building towards the 2027 World Cup. But with choices like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, you can wave goodbye to the trophy.”
Rana’s underwhelming record so far
Rana’s rise through the ranks has been rapid but uneven. Between November 2024 and February 2025, he made his debut across all three formats. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he picked up just four wickets in two Tests. His ODI outings against England and in the Champions Trophy were also ordinary, while his Asia Cup 2025 campaign produced only two wickets in two matches for 79 runs.
In the Super 4 clash against Sri Lanka, his economy rate came under heavy criticism after he conceded 54 runs for a solitary wicket – a spell Srikkanth had previously slammed as “reckless.”
