Aakash Chopra Opens Up on Harshit Rana’s India Selection
However, Aakash Chopra said that Rana has bowled fairly effectively thus far in his career and that he believes the Kolkata Knight Riders pacer is continuously the target of unwarranted mockery for whatever he does.
The former India opener said that Rana wasn’t recommended to join the Indian team and praised his versatility as an all-rounder.
Harshit Rana has had to deal with a lot of criticism and trolls since making his debut for the Indian team in late 2024. His place in the T20 setup is still being closely examined. Some fans have criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir for backing the 24-year-old despite a few poor performances.
“His numbers aren’t all that poor. In his few opportunities, he has performed admirably. He continues to receive needless trolling for everything. A few times, he has been sent up the order.
In Ireland, he came close to winning the game. There shouldn’t be such a commotion. When asked on his YouTube channel if Rana should be removed off the side, Aakash Chopra said, “He is talented. He is a performer.” Since he is playing and performing well, he has not been recommended.
He is a good fielder in addition to being a bowler and batsman, despite dropping a catch. He makes a contribution. It’s a bit excessive how much abuse Harshit Rana receives,” he continued.
In the third Twenty20 International between England and India in 2026, Aakash Chopra remarked, “That was a bit of a shock” since Harshit Rana was eliminated before Shivam Dube.
In the third Twenty20 International, the former cricket player turned analyst expressed his amazement at seeing Rana bat before batting all-rounder Shivam Dube during the powerplay. Firstly, you losing five wickets in the Powerplay was startling, and then for Harshit to come to the ground in the Powerplay itself, that was a bit of a shock.
Forward Shivam Dube. You were losing in any scenario. Therefore, it didn’t make much sense to send Harshit Rana so early,” he replied.
The decision to send Rana ahead of Dube shouldn’t have a detrimental effect on Dube’s confidence, according to Aakash Chopra. “Will that influence Shivam Dube’s confidence? Not in my opinion.
The truth is that the entire team collapsed in 11.4 overs, and we were all out for 76. What negative feelings might someone have in such a situation, and how would it have affected his confidence if someone had gone to bat before him? Chopra noted.
The 48-year-old disagreed that the Indian team administration, helmed by Gautam Gambhir, was underutilising Dube. “Are we underutilising Dube in an attempt to discover Harshit Rana as an all-rounder? Not really. So far, Shivam Dube has been used fairly well.
In fact, his name has also appeared in ODIs lately in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy, and he is being made to bowl a lot as well. Therefore, I don’t think it’s right that we want to promote Harshit as an all-rounder and are underutilising him,” he continued.
India and England’s five-match Twenty20 International series is currently in disarray. The Men in Blue are behind 0-2 with two games left. Rana has taken three wickets in two innings while giving up runs at an economy rate of 19. The fourth Twenty20 International will take place at Bristol’s County Ground on Thursday, July 9.
