Harshit Rana had been subjected to some of the most brutal online trolling, a situation that changed with the India vs Australia series. A barrage of criticism followed each of his failures, and many were prompt to doubt his position in the national setup. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the ex-chief selector, even spoke ill of the young 23-year-old fast bowler, calling him a "yes-man" of India head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Critics silenced after Harshit Rana’s breakthrough Australia tour
At such a young age, inconsistency was bound to happen, but few were willing to show patience. Because Harshit and Gambhir had previously shared time at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), many unfairly linked the pacer’s selection to that connection rather than merit.
However, his impressive performances with both bat and ball during the white-ball tour of Australia turned the narrative around. The same critics who once mocked him have now gone quiet—at least until his next off day.
Former KKR wicketkeeper Manvinder Bisla, who famously won the Player of the Match award in the 2012 IPL final, came to Harshit’s defence. Speaking on the India Cricket Canteen podcast, Bisla hit back at those questioning Gambhir’s influence and Harshit’s selection.
“The ones opposing Harshit Rana must be non-KKR fans. Everyone assumes Gautam’s KKR background is why he supports Harshit. But there’s no family connection—Koi mama chacha ka rishta to hai nahi (It’s not like Gambhir is his uncle). His selection is purely on merit,” Bisla said.
