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Dear Gautam Gambhir, fans are right to question Harshit Rana and not everything is a witch hunt

Akshita Patel

Gautam Gambhir's outburst on Harshit Rana criticism [Source: @KKR_Xtra/X.com]Gautam Gambhir's outburst on Harshit Rana criticism [Source: @KKR_Xtra/X.com]

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir came out with a passionate defence of Harshit Rana, which might have come from a place of loyalty. But it ended up sounding like overprotection rather than leadership. 

During the post-match press conference after India’s 2-0 series victory against the West Indies, Gambhir faced the media and defended Rana against online scrutiny. 

He said the 23-year-old kid shouldn’t be trolled, as he is playing on his own merit. The coach added that some people are using Rana to run their YouTube channels, which is not the right precedent.

However, Gambhir must first realise that criticism is a part of the sport, and no cricketer or athlete, irrespective of his or her stature, is immune to it.

Harshit Rana’s fast-track debut in 3 formats is questionable

With 14 First Class games, 21 List A games and 41 T20s, Harshit Rana was deemed good enough to play for India in all 3 formats (Tests, ODIs and T20Is). 

In stark contrast, Arshdeep Singh, a quality left-arm pacer with 100 T20I wickets, is struggling to be a mainstay in India’s T20I team. Not only that, but he is yet to receive a Test call-up despite having the left-arm angle advantage.

Rana’s case isn’t about nepotism in the traditional sense, but it does raise eyebrows. His selection across formats feels rushed, especially when many more proven bowlers are waiting in the wings, players like Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar. 

Harshit Rana has shown glimpses of talent in the IPL, 40 wickets in 34 games with a 9.51 economy, but that’s about it. To suddenly be handed ODI and Test caps without sustained domestic excellence is a leap that deserves questioning, not blind justification. 

Gambhir seems to be bothered by the accusation of favouritism

When former India captain Kris Srikkanth pointed out that Harshit Rana’s selection might be linked to Gambhir’s influence, it struck a nerve. 

Instead of addressing the cricketing logic behind Rana’s inclusion, Gautam Gambhir turned emotional, accusing many former cricketers of ‘targeting a 23-year-old kid for YouTube views’.

That might earn applause for passion, but it dodges the real issue, which is transparency. Fans and experts aren’t demanding Rana’s head, but they’re demanding reasoning.

Social media trolling is cruel and unjustified

Let’s be clear. Harshit Rana doesn’t deserve to be trolled or mocked. Personal attacks, memes, and name-calling are unacceptable. No player, especially someone still finding his feet, should be targeted in that way. 

But what he does deserve is honest, performance-based scrutiny. And if Gautam Gambhir can’t handle that, perhaps he’s forgotten that accountability is part of the game, something he demanded regularly during previous coaches' eras.

No, Gambhir, it’s not "shameful" to question Harshit Rana

Gautam Gambhir’s defence paints every critic as a heartless hater, which is simply not true. India’s cricket followers are some of the most informed in the world. 

They can tell the difference between a struggling rookie and an undeserved call-up. They’ve seen countless youngsters like Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal earn their place the hard way, through first-class dominance and consistent domestic performances. 

Rana’s resume doesn’t come close to that yet. If Gautam Gambhir truly believes in Harshit’s ability, he should let the bowler prove it on the field rather than shielding him from fair questions. 

Protecting a player from online toxicity is commendable, but protecting him from accountability is not. In fact, excessive protection can do more harm than good. It can breed insecurity, entitlement, or the impression that criticism equals hate, something no young athlete should grow up believing.

Final thought

At the end of the day, Harshit Rana doesn’t need sympathy. He needs a fair chance and fair criticism. Indian fans aren’t asking too much when they question whether performance or personal preference drives selections. 

What’s “shameful” isn’t the questioning itself, but how quickly it’s being dismissed as negativity. Gautam Gambhir’s heart might be in the right place, but his outrage misses the larger point that respect and scrutiny can coexist. 

Harshit Rana, for that matter, deserves both.