Ravichandran Ashwin Defends Harshit Rana Amid Selection Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has come out in support of young pacer Harshit Rana, emphasising that criticism in cricket must remain professional and not devolve into personal attacks, in a video posted on his YouTube channel on October 16, 2025. This comes amid a heated debate over Rana's consistent inclusion in India's white-ball squads for the upcoming Australia tour, sparked by former selector Kris Srikkanth's allegations of favouritism toward the 23-year-old under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Ashwin, who had earlier questioned Rana's selection based on his IPL 2024 performances, urged restraint, drawing from his own experiences with critics like Sanjay Manjrekar, and warned against the mental toll of negativity on emerging talents.

The controversy ignited after the BCCI announced India's ODI squad on October 4, 2025, for the three-match series starting October 19 in Perth, with Shubman Gill as captain and Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning post their Champions Trophy 2025 break. Rana earned a spot alongside Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna in the pace attack, despite modest returns—13 wickets in 10 ODIs at an economy of 5.8—and a mixed IPL where he claimed 19 wickets for KKR but leaked runs at 9.47. Srikkanth, on his YouTube channel, labelled Rana a "constant yes-man" to Gambhir—from their KKR days—accusing selectors of bypassing merit for loyalty, and quipped, "There is only one permanent member—Harshit Rana. Nobody knows why he is there." Ashwin echoed initial concerns, stating he "would love to be in the selection meeting" to understand the rationale, but later pivoted to defend the youngster.

Gambhir fired back fiercely on October 14 after India's 2-0 Test sweep over the West Indies, calling Srikkanth's remarks "shameful" and accusing him of targeting a "23-year-old kid" for YouTube views: "Criticise me; I can handle it... but don't troll him just to run your channel." He highlighted Rana's merit-based journey, noting, "His father is not an ex-chairman or NRI," and stressed the amplified harm via social media. Ashwin aligned with this in his latest video, saying, "When the attack becomes too personal, the genre changes... Assume Harshit sees the reel and is about to play for India—wouldn't he be shattered?" He advocated critiquing skills and style but not character, adding, "Negativity sells these days... We should avoid consuming such content."

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Rana, a Delhi Ranji prospect who debuted in Tests against Bangladesh in 2024 and featured in the Asia Cup 2025, has shown promise with raw pace touching 150 kph and swing, but critics point to inconsistency—conceding 4.5 runs per over in T20Is—and question his readiness over veterans like Mukesh Kumar. The row extends to broader debates on Gambhir's influence since his July 2024 appointment, with some seeing Rana's picks as evidence of KKR bias. On X, reactions split: supporters like @FirstpostSports highlighted Ashwin's critique of another selection (Nitish Reddy's), while fans praised Gambhir's protectiveness, with posts like @rajv20 defending Srikkanth and Ashwin's "honest" views.

As India gears up for the Australia ODIs—part of the 2027 World Cup build-up—the saga underscores cricket's evolving media landscape, where ex-players' platforms amplify opinions but risk harming rookies. Ashwin's intervention, blending past critique with empathy, calls for a healthier discourse, ensuring young guns like Rana focus on performances rather than trolls. With the series opener looming, Rana's wickets could silence doubters, validating Gambhir's faith and the selectors' gamble on youth.

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