Former India chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth didn’t hold back, delivering a scathing critique of Harshit Rana’s inclusion in the ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour. Speaking publicly on Saturday, Srikkanth openly questioned the team management’s continuous squad reshuffles and expressed dismay over the glaring omission of wicket-keeper Sanju Samson from the backup position.
Srikkanth articulated his concerns on his YouTube channel, focusing particularly on Rana, who has seen a surprisingly swift ascent to international cricket, making his debut across various formats within just four months since November 2024.
Harshit Rana, a member of the recent Asia Cup-winning squad, has been chosen as one of the four specialist pacers for the three-match ODI series in Australia. This decision has ignited a fiery debate concerning the team management’s strategic approach and player selection criteria.
“By making such selections constantly, they are confusing the players themselves. Even we aren’t sure every day what the selection will be. Suddenly Yashasvi Jaiswal is there and then next minute he won’t be there. There is only one permanent member – Harshit Rana. Nobody knows why he is there in the team. By chopping and changing all the time, they’ll dent the confidence of the players,” Srikkanth asserted.
He further expressed deep worries about the selection process and its potential ramifications for future major tournaments. “You don’t pick some players even if they do well and take others even if they don’t. The best way to get selected seems to be a constant ‘yes-man’ to Gambhir. You should start building towards the 2027 World Cup. But I feel they’ve not. If you pick Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy among the probabilities, then you can wave goodbye to the trophy.”
Rana’s international career kicked off with his Test debut during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia, where he secured four wickets in two matches. He subsequently made his ODI debut against England and was included in the ODI Champions Trophy squad in the United Arab Emirates.
The young pacer’s performance in the Asia Cup was notably unimpressive, as he managed to take only two wickets while conceding 79 runs in two matches. His showing against Sri Lanka in the Super 4s, where he gave away 54 runs for a single wicket, drew specific and pointed criticism from Srikkanth.
“Harshit Rana does too many ‘filmy gimmicks.’ All these cinematic reactions are of no real use; you have to actually bowl well. He displays all these ‘filmy reactions’ in the IPL as well. This is not a good attitude; it’s just showboating. He dives after the ball has already passed him. Why dive after the goal has already been scored? Aggression is different, but showboating so much at a young age is why he got punished today,” Srikkanth remarked about Rana’s on-field behavior.
This latest selection controversy underscores the ongoing debate within Indian cricket regarding team composition and selection policies. The frequent alterations to the squad and the often-questioned criteria for selection have raised serious concerns about the long-term strategy for building a formidable team. The discussion surrounding Rana’s inclusion and performance reflects broader anxieties about striking the right balance between offering opportunities to promising young players and maintaining consistency in team selection. The debate continues to unfold as India prepares for their eagerly anticipated series against Australia.