However, Aakash Chopra said that Rana has bowled rather well 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 was not recommended to join the Indian team and hailed his versatility as an all-rounder.
Harshit Rana has had to deal with a lot of criticism and haters after making his Indian team debut in late 2024. His role in the T20 setup is still being closely examined. Some supporters have criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir for backing the 24-year-old despite a few poor performances.
“His numbers aren’t all that awful. In the little opportunities he has had, he has performed fairly well. For everything, he continues to receive needless trolling. Several times, he has been sent up the order. The game in Ireland was almost won by him. There shouldn’t be so much commotion.
When asked on his YouTube channel if Rana should be removed off the side, Aakash Chopra replied, “He is talented.
He is a performer.” Since he is playing and performing well, he has not received a suggestion. He bats, bowlers, and is a respectable fielder despite dropping a catch. He has contributed. He continued, “The hatred Harshit Rana receives is a bit excessive.
In the third Twenty20 International between England and India in 2026, Aakash Chopra remarked, “That was a bit of a shock” that Harshit Rana was dismissed before Shivam Dube.
During the third Twenty20 International’s powerplay, the former cricket player turned analyst expressed his amazement at seeing Rana bat before batting all-rounder Shivam Dube. First of all, it was unexpected that you lost five wickets during the Powerplay.
It was also somewhat unexpected that Harshit fell to the ground during the Powerplay. Deliver Shivam Dube. In any case, you were losing. Therefore, it didn’t make much sense to send Harshit Rana so early,” he said.
The decision to send Rana ahead of Dube shouldn’t have a detrimental effect on his confidence, according to Aakash Chopra. “Will that influence Shivam Dube’s confidence? I don’t believe so. In actuality, the team folded up in 11.4 overs and we were all out for 76.
How would anyone feel in such a situation, and how would it have affected his confidence if someone had gone to bat before him? Chopra noticed.
The 48-year-old denied that Dube was being underutilised by the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management. “Are we underutilising Dube in an attempt to find Harshit Rana as an all-rounder? Really not. So far, we have been making good use of Shivam Dube.
He is actually being forced to bowl a lot and his name has suddenly appeared in ODIs in lieu of Nitish Kumar Reddy. Therefore, I don’t think it’s accurate that we want to promote Harshit as an all-around player while underutilising him,” he continued.
India and England’s five-match T20I series is now in disarray. The Men in Blue are behind 0–2 with two games left. In two innings, Rana has taken three wickets while giving up runs at an economy rate of 19. The fourth Twenty20 International will take place at the County Ground in Bristol on Thursday, July 9.
