Team India / Why is this player repeatedly getting a place in Team India? Understand the real reason.

Team India: Since the announcement of the Indian cricket team for the Australia tour, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill have been the focus of discussion. The leadership change in the squads selected for the ODI and T20 series also made headlines, with Shubman Gill replacing Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain. But amidst all this, another player is in the news, and for all the wrong reasons. This player is fast bowler Harshit Rana, whose selection has sparked a flood of trolling and hateful comments on social media.

Selection and the Beginning of Controversy

On October 4, 2025, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar announced the ODI and T20 squads for the Australia tour. This squad included seven players, including Gill, who play both formats. Harshit Rana is one of them. However, while the selection of the other six players remained unquestioned, controversy erupted over the 23-year-old Delhi fast bowler. Harshit has been accused of favoritism, and many are linking his selection to head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Harshit worked with Gambhir at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024, where KKR won the title under Gambhir's mentorship. Harshit played a key role in this victory. Gambhir subsequently became the head coach of the Indian team, and within a few months, Harshit made his debut in all three formats. This coincidence has raised doubts about his selection.

Harshit's international career: Performance so far

Harshit made his Test debut on the Australia tour in November 2024, followed by his T20 and ODI debuts in January 2025. His performance so far has been mixed:

• Tests: 2 matches, 4 wickets
• T20Is: 3 matches, 5 wickets (with an economy of 10)
• ODIs: 5 matches, 10 wickets (average of 20, economy of less than 6)

Harshit also got a chance in the Champions Trophy 2025, replacing Mohammed Siraj, where he took 1 wicket for 30 runs in a high-voltage match against Pakistan. However, his performance in the recent Asia Cup 2025 was less impressive.

Trolling and Gambhir's accusations

Harshit's repeated selection has been questioned, and Gambhir is being accused of giving him opportunities because of his attachment to KKR. Former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth sarcastically said that if anyone has a guaranteed place in the playing XI, it is Harshit Rana, and Gambhir is the reason for this.

Are these allegations true? Is the trolling of Harshit justified? Gambhir's influence is certainly evident in his consistent selection, but that's not entirely true. There's a long-term strategy behind Harshit's selection.

The real reason for Harshit's selection

Harshit's biggest advantage is his all-round ability. He not only bowls fast but can also contribute with the bat down the order. His tall stature, high speed, and bouncer ability make him special. This selection was made not just for bilateral series, but also with the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa in mind.

South African pitches favor tall fast bowlers, and India has been weak on this front. South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and England have a plethora of such bowlers, but India lacks them. This is why bowlers like Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna are being groomed now so they can play a key role in the World Cup.