Gambhir pushes back on critics over Harshit Rana’s selection
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come out in strong defence of young pacer Harshit Rana, whose inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia has triggered public backlash.
Rana, 23, has faced criticism for his underwhelming performances, particularly in the recent Asia Cup, where he was expensive against Sri Lanka and Oman. Some fans and pundits have alleged favouritism, suggesting that Rana’s selection stems from his association with Gambhir during their time at Kolkata Knight Riders.
The harshest remarks came from former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who on his YouTube channel said, “There is only one permanent member – Harshit Rana. Nobody knows why he is there in the team. You don’t pick some players even if they do well and take others even if they don’t. Best is to be like Harshit Rana and be a constant yes-man to Gambhir to be selected.”
Gambhir, speaking to reporters after India’s series win over the West Indies, labelled such commentary as damaging and irresponsible.
“It’s a little shameful, I’ll be very honest with you. In order to run your YouTube channel you are targeting a 23-year-old, which is unfair. His father is not an ex-chairman, ex-cricketer, or NRI. The amount of cricket he has played and will play in the future is on merit. Targeting individual is unfair and a player should be rated by his performance, for which the selectors and coaches are there.”
A call for responsibility in public discourse
Gambhir emphasized that the impact of such public criticism goes beyond the individual being targeted.
“If you say such things for a 23-year-old and then social media amplifies it, imagine the mindset. Anyone’s kid will play cricket and this is not acceptable, you need to understand that he is 23 and not 33. Every one has us moral responsibility to make sure Indian cricket does well so don’t say anything to run your YouTube channel.”
He went further, inviting critics to direct their scrutiny at him instead of young players.
“Don’t say anything to run your YouTube channel – if you want, then target me, I can handle it but leave that kid alone and it’s same for all the young stars.”
Gambhir also appealed to the broader cricketing community to focus criticism on on-field performance rather than personal attacks.
“What you say is just to run your YouTube channel. I think you’ve got, every one of us, not only me, you guys, everyone of us has moral responsibility towards Indian cricket. Indian cricket doesn’t belong to me. It doesn’t belong to the people sitting in that dressing room. It belongs to all of you as well. It belongs to every Indian who genuinely wants Indian cricket to do well. So you can criticise, but do it on performance. Don’t do it because you want to target an individual.”
Rajeev Shukla echoes support for Gambhir
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has backed Gautam Gambhir’s strong defence of Harshit Rana, urging former players and commentators to show restraint when speaking about young cricketers in public forums. Shukla emphasised that while criticism is part of the game, it must never come at the cost of a player’s confidence, especially for those still finding their footing in international cricket. He reiterated that selection matters are handled by the team management and selectors, and that unnecessary speculation or harsh remarks can damage morale both within the squad and among emerging players.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, Shukla said, “Gautam Gambhir is right. If someone has any complaints about the players, then it should be done responsibly. This will bring the players’ morale down. It is the job of the team to select players. So, before you say anything about the players, you should think about how much responsibility you should take.”
Shubman Gill praised for leadership under pressure
Gambhir’s defence of Rana was accompanied by an emphatic endorsement of Shubman Gill, who recently led India to a 2-0 Test series win over the West Indies at home. Gill has also been named captain for the ODI series in Australia.
Responding to questions on how he’s guiding the young skipper, Gambhir said, “(By) just allowing him to be himself. I think no one has done him a favour by appointing him the Test captain or (the) one-day captain. I think he deserves every bit of it.”
He praised Gill’s leadership during India’s five-Test tour of England earlier this year, calling it a trial by fire.
“I think he’s worked hard. He has already passed his toughest test as captain — that was in England, five Tests away from home in tough conditions against a quality team.”
Gambhir stressed the importance of staying focused on the present.
“For me, I am not looking ahead at what is going to happen in the World Test Championship final in 2027. That is still a long, long way away. I think, staying in the present is very important. It was important for us to win this series at home. More importantly, I think we have got a very busy schedule. Hopefully, we can keep continuing from here.”
He reiterated how challenging the England tour was for Gill.
“I know it’s tough for him. It was tough, and I’ve said it many times, that England was probably the toughest Test for him. Five Test matches over the course of two, two and a half months, against a quality England side. What more could he have faced?”
Team culture and leadership dynamics
While much of the spotlight has been on Gill, Gambhir made it a point to credit the entire team for supporting their new captain.
“Sometimes we only keep talking about the captain, but the way the team has responded to him and to his leadership is equally important.”
He highlighted that leadership is defined not only by personal performance, but also by the ability to inspire through actions.
“You’ve got to give credit to the entire group in that dressing room. You do earn respect by scoring runs, but you also earn respect by saying the right things, and doing the right things. I think your actions should be more than any other thing, not just the performances. He’s done phenomenally well, and so has the group.”
Asked whether the team would bring in a mental conditioning coach to help Gill in his leadership journey, Gambhir responded with characteristic wit.
“First and foremost, I need one.”
He added, “When the team wins, everyone is in a good space but when it doesn’t win, I need to keep them in a good space.”
This cohesion within the squad has been instrumental in navigating the early stages of Gill’s captaincy. As the team prepares for a demanding schedule ahead, the foundation of trust and shared leadership appears to be firmly in place.
Maintaining balance between criticism and support
Gambhir’s impassioned defence of Harshit Rana and Rajeev Shukla’s call for responsible commentary have underscored a growing sentiment within Indian cricket — that constructive criticism must not cross the line into personal attacks. As the team transitions under a new captain and coaching setup, both senior administrators and players appear aligned on protecting young talent from undue scrutiny while ensuring accountability remains at the core of selection and performance discussions.
