People have started saying — “Harshit Rana plays because of Gautam Gambhir’s quota.” Right now, only three players in Team India are considered all-format regulars — Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and, surprisingly, Harshit Rana. Many even joke that Harshit must have some video or secret over Gambhir, considering how consistently he’s being picked.
In the past six to eight months, Harshit Rana has become one of the most trolled cricketers in India. The criticism hasn’t just come from fans — even senior cricketers have questioned his place. They ask: “What exactly has Harshit done to deserve a place in every format?”
The Silent Response from Harshit Rana
Despite all the noise, Harshit Rana has chosen silence. Those close to him say he believes in answering with performances, not words. According to them, Harshit has said —
“I’ll respond through my game, not my tongue. Words don’t travel far, but performance speaks louder.”
Still, while Harshit stayed quiet, Gautam Gambhir finally decided to speak up — for the first time — on the trolling surrounding Harshit Rana.
Gautam Gambhir Defends Harshit Rana
After India defeated the West Indies by seven wickets in the Delhi Test, Gautam Gambhir attended the post-match press conference. When asked about Harshit Rana, Gambhir didn’t hold back.
He said,
“It’s shameful. Absolutely shameful that a 23-year-old boy is being targeted. You can troll me — I can take it. But why attack him?”
The trolling has intensified because of public remarks from figures like R. Ashwin, Kris Srikkanth, and several sports journalists, all questioning Rana’s repeated selection. Many claim that Gambhir is the reason he keeps getting picked.
Gambhir’s Strong Message to Critics
Gambhir continued,
“You’re tweeting as if his father was once the BCCI president. He isn’t. Why are you targeting him personally? Think about what this does to a young player’s mindset. Every player is someone’s son — this kind of targeting is unacceptable.”
He urged the media and fans to stop exploiting players for content:
“Don’t say things just to keep your YouTube channel running. If you want to target someone, target me. I can handle it. But leave that boy alone.”
Gambhir’s words resonated — not just for Harshit but for all young players facing online abuse.
The Social Media Backlash
In recent months, social media has been flooded with memes about Harshit Rana. Despite that, his bowling has improved — his pace has gone up, and his consistency has increased. He’s performed well in the IPL, too.
Still, even though he’s in the Indian squad, he rarely makes the playing XI. The criticism stems from the belief that he’s in the team because of Gambhir’s influence, not merit.
Questions Raised by Former Cricketers
Former cricketer Kris Srikkanth also made a controversial statement, saying,
“The only person who doesn’t know why he’s in the team is Harshit Rana himself. The best way to stay in the team is to always agree with Gambhir.”
Since Gautam Gambhir took over as coach last year, Harshit has played:
- 2 Test matches
- 5 ODIs
- 3 T20s
That’s a total of 10 matches, yet the trolling has been non-stop.
Harshit Rana’s Recent Performances
Harshit was part of India’s Asia Cup squad, playing one match. He was also named for the three-match ODI series against Australia, where the trolling peaked again.
The series schedule:
- 1st ODI: 19th October (Perth)
- 2nd ODI: 23rd October (Adelaide)
- 3rd ODI: 25th October (Sydney)
After India’s seven-wicket win in the Delhi Test, the debate reignited:
Should Harshit Rana really be trolled this much? Are the critics right — or is Gambhir’s defense justified?
A Broader Question: Has Favoritism Ever Left Indian Cricket?
Favoritism isn’t new in Indian cricket. Every era has had coaches and captains who backed their preferred players. From past generations to the present, every team has seen a few selections based on trust and chemistry, not just numbers.
The real question remains — Harshit Rana has only played 10 matches across formats. Does he truly deserve this level of trolling?
What’s your take? Is it fair? Or are we judging too harshly?
