New Delhi: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has strongly refuted claims made by former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth, who alleged that young pace bowler Harshit Rana secured a place in the national ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour due to his personal association with Gambhir. Srikkanth had made the claims on his YouTube channel, suggesting that Rana’s selection was influenced by his past connections with Gambhir during their time at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
Speaking after India’s 2-0 Test series sweep over the West Indies, Gambhir called Srikkanth’s remarks “a little shameful” and criticised the targeting of a 23-year-old cricketer for personal opinions aired online. “It is so unfair that you are targeting a 23-year-old kid for the sake of your YouTube channel,” Gambhir said. He emphasised that Rana has earned every opportunity through his own performances, without reliance on family connections or influence from cricketing elites.
Gambhir further warned of the dangers of public commentary amplified by social media, explaining how such statements could affect young players’ mindsets and even their families in the future. “You can target performance, and selectors and coaches do that. But if you attack a young player personally, it is not acceptable,” he said, highlighting the ethical responsibility senior figures have when discussing Indian cricket publicly.
The India coach made it clear that criticism should remain performance-focused rather than personal. “Indian cricket doesn’t belong to me, or people in the dressing room. It belongs to every Indian who wants to see it succeed. Criticise based on results, yes. But don’t target a young boy,” he added.
Since Gambhir took over as coach last year, Harshit Rana, a Delhi cricketer, has represented India in two Tests, five ODIs, and three T20 Internationals, including the recent Asia Cup, where he contributed to India’s victorious campaign. Gambhir stressed that young players like Rana deserve fair treatment and should not be dragged into personal controversies.
India is now gearing up for a three-match ODI series against Australia, beginning October 19, with Gambhir reaffirming that performance and results will remain the key criteria for selection.
Gambhir’s remarks underline growing debates in Indian cricket over the role of former players in public commentary and the responsibility they carry when discussing emerging talent. His defence of Rana sends a clear message that merit and on-field performance, not connections, will determine opportunities in Indian cricket.