Follow UsHarshit Rana would have come in the dead rubber against Sri Lanka with the intentions of creating some impact in the Asia Cup. However, the pacer was taken apart by the Lankan batters. Rana conceded 54 runs in his four overs as India almost lost the game despite scoring more than 200.
He bowled decently in the last over to defend 12 runs and take India to a Super Over. However, his poor performance was criticised heavily by former World Cup-winning cricketer Kris Srikkanth, who blamed his “filmy gimmicks” on the field for his bad performances. Notably, Rana had thrown the ball back towards batter Pathum Nissanka after he played it towards him. Nissanka smashed him for a six right after that small non-verbal kerfuffle.
“Harshit Rana does too many filmy gimmicks. All these filmy reactions aren’t of any use, you’ve to actually bowl well,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel as quoted by the Indian Express.
“He does all these filmy reactions in the IPL as well. This is not a good attitude, it’s just showboating. He drives after the ball is already last 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 said that India could win the game in the Super Over only because the Indian spinners bowled brilliantly, as Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy bowled eight overs for just 62 and picked two wickets.
“India won because of the four overs in the middle from Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. They both bowled magically,” the former Tamil Nadu batter said.
“Wrist spinners are always potential match winners, which got proven today. Sri Lanka today exposed the Indian bowling a little bit. Axar Patel can be taken to the cleaners if there is no turn.”
India will now play the final of the Asia Cup against Pakistan on September 28 in Dubai at 8 PM IST.