Former India great slams BCCI, calls Harshit Rana a 'yes-man' to Gautam Gambhir

Amid ongoing discussions about the ODI futures of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the inclusion of pacer Harshit Rana in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour has raised eyebrows. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee left out seasoned players like Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson, and Ravindra Jadeja from the 15-member squad, yet Harshit managed to secure a place. With this, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer becomes one of the few players currently being considered across all three formats.

Reacting to the selection, 1983 World Cup winner Kris Srikkanth didn’t hold back, suggesting that Harshit’s inclusion was influenced by his association with India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir.

“The best way to get selected seems to be by being like Harshit Rana — a constant yes-man to Gambhir,” Srikkanth remarked on his YouTube channel. He went on to question the logic behind picking certain players despite inconsistent performances while ignoring others who have delivered results.

“There’s only one permanent member now — Harshit Rana. Nobody really understands why he’s in the team. Some players are ignored even when they perform, while others are picked without proving themselves. It’s better to be like Harshit Rana — a yes-man to Gambhir — if you want to get selected,” he said.

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Srikkanth also criticized the management’s approach toward Nitish Kumar Reddy, arguing that the youngster is being prematurely molded into a specific role in ODIs. He emphasized that the selectors should focus on players with proven consistency and clear roles rather than potential alone, especially with the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.

“You should start preparing for the 2027 World Cup now. But looking at the current selections — if Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are among the key prospects — India might as well bid goodbye to the trophy,” he added.

Srikkanth’s comments have reignited the debate over the influence of head coach Gautam Gambhir on team selections. His claim that Harshit Rana is Gambhir’s “favourite” hints at possible favouritism within the system — a concern that, whether accurate or not, raises questions about transparency in India’s selection process.