Follow UsOver the last few months, 23-year-old Harshit Rana has been under intense scrutiny from all corners, with ex-cricketers trolling him quite heavily. Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth was one of them, as the 2011 World Cup selector trolled Rana’s selection, calling him a ‘constant yes man’.
But that comment didn’t sit well with Indian coach Gautam Gambhir, who slammed all those trolls and statements. Now, with Rana in India’s squad for the Australia ODIs, all eyes will be on him as India are without their star pacers, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
In their absence, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra backs the 23-year-old Rana to be part of the playing XI for the opening ODI against Australia in Perth, on October 19 (Sunday). Chopra also added that Mohammed Siraj is a definite starter in India’s ODI scheme of things.
“I will go with Mohammed Siraj. People have forgotten that he wasn’t part of the Champions Trophy and Asia Cup teams. Mohammed Siraj needs to be there, and he deserves it. So he will definitely be in the XI. I want to play Harshit Rana. There was a toss-up between Prasidh Krishna and him,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel, reported the Indian Express.
The youngster has played five ODIs for Men in Blue, with ten wickets in his young career, averaging a staggering 20.70, including a career best of 3/31. Chopra insisted that the management should continue to back the youngster, who has the ability to hit the long ball.
“Harshit Rana has been with the team for such a long time, and if the selectors and team management are seeing so much promise and potential in him, he should be played. These conditions will be good. He played in the Test match in Perth and did decently as well. He also bats a little,” he added.
India will welcome back their talismans, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, for the Sydney contest – their first appearance in blue since March.